230 
THE RETURN HOME 
This thought was not pleasant. Joseph away 
nearly all day at school, and Mr. Percy back at 
college! The garden showed wisdom in getting 
ready to die when those who attended it should be 
away. 
When we came to Nestly, last March, it was too 
late in the season for Joseph to begin going to 
school. He had, therefore, been free to make, and 
to work in, the garden. His long holiday had been 
one of sheer delight, with hardly an idle moment. 
In another month I shall be left alone with the 
fading flowers. When Mrs. Keith called to us, 
I was feeling rather desolate. 
We had not finished breakfast when Queenie 
Perth ran in. Her arms were laden with asters, 
with which she pelted Joseph and me, throwing 
the remainder into Mrs. Keith’s lap, to save herself 
from a reproof about making the room untidy. 
“I am to stay,” she said, “until Auntie comes for 
me, which perhaps will be never, because Mr. Brad- 
ley is talking with her.” 
We had before heard Queenie lament that she 
had to wait very long for Miss Wiseman whenever 
she began talking with her gardener. 
“You went away,” Queenie told Joseph, “before 
the butterfly I promised you was tame, and, when 
it grew tame, it died.” 
“Poor creature!” Joseph exclaimed. “You 
must have led it an awful life.” 
“You are mistaken,” Queenie said solemnly. “It 
