256 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS 
do it gently, almost without ceasing, as though they 
were snowflakes. 
“I shall plant all of the yellow crocuses in the 
circle in front of the house,” Joseph said, as though 
to break the monotony of the rain. “Then, when 
people drive in the front gate next spring, they will 
be as surprised as we were the day we went to Miss 
Wiseman’s and saw the snowdrops in bloom.” 
“Do you think we should have curtains in the 
library?” I asked. 
“I was speaking about the crocuses,” he re- 
minded. 
“But Mrs. Keith says I must think about the 
house now,” I told him, “and curtains are impor- 
tant.” 
“Then you had better have them,” Joseph made 
answer. 
A bird flew close to the window, as though trying 
to get in. Indeed, he knocked himself against the 
pane. 
“Perhaps this storm will grow wilder,” Joseph 
said, and then returned to the subject of bulbs. 
“Did you know,” he asked first, “that Timothy 
sowed a great deal of grass-seed here on September 
twentieth, and that, before doing so, he took up 
many weeds and later rolled down the new seeds ? 
They have probably taken root, and will have a 
fine start before cold weather. So, you see, a good 
lawn is already prepared for the bulbs to be set in.” 
