THE DECISION 
3 
while outside, the overgrown and unkempt grounds 
were evidence of her dislike for out-of-door life and 
the trouble of flower-growing. 
Mrs. Keith stayed with us as a reminder of our 
great-aunt’s day and power. She had been the 
housekeeper of the Six Spruces for many years, and 
saw no reason for changing her abode because two 
children were coming there to grow up. Indeed, 
Little Joseph and I greatly preferred to have her 
remain. We had discovered that her heart was 
good and kind, although from what she said about 
It we might have believed she had no such organ 
at all. 
Both our near neighbours have gardens for vege- 
tables and for flowers, and their contentment Is 
very great. We hear that last autumn Miss Wise- 
man, whose place adjoins ours on the north, had 
a single dahlia, larger and finer than any which 
unfolded at Nestly Heights. Earlier In the sea- 
son, however, the beets grown by Mr. Hayden’s 
gardener were somewhat sweeter than her own, so 
the dahlia was doubly prized as making up for 
their deficiency. Hearing our neighbours argue 
whether It was more pleasing to plant pansies by 
themselves, or to use them as ground covers for 
rose-beds, we became convinced that great enjoy- 
ment was to be found In watching things grow, and 
incidentally, of course. In outdoing one’s neigh- 
bours. 
Our neighbour, Mr. Hayden, has three sons: 
