"What, planning against the great cypress?" she asked, and even in that moment of supreme agony and fear she was conscious of vague wonder at the composure of her voice. "It seems to be dying," replied Mellen; "I am going to have the earth dug away from about the roots." "I am afraid you will only kill it," returned Elizabeth; "it is so late in the season." "I did not know that you were a gardener," he said, coldly. He looked at her standing there with that unnatural brightness on her cheeks, that wild glitter in her eyes, and it seemed to him that she had only come out in her beauty and unconcern, to mock him after the long night of wild trouble which he had spent. "I know that is what Jones said," she went on. "He thought in the spring something could be done, but not now." He was turning away--that action deprived her of all self-control--she caught his arm, crying: "Don't touch that tree--don't go near it." He stopped and looked at her in blank amazement; she saw the danger in which her impetuosity had placed her--dropped his arm and tried to appear composed again. "What is the matter with you?" he asked. "The tree is not a human being that I am going to assassinate." She forced herself to laugh; even then the woman's self-mastery was something astounding. "I was a little theatrical," she said; "but I can't bear to have the old tree touched." "Why, marm, it'll die if it ain't," put in Jarvis, who considered that he had been silent quite long enough. "You don't know anything about the matter!" cried Elizabeth, sharply. The old man drew himself up, and looked so indignant that she felt sure he would oppose her now with might and main. "I mean," she added, "you don't know how I feel about it, I want the poor thing left alone." The old man relinquished his erect attitude and looked somewhat mollified. "If it's yer whim, marm, that's another thing, but I thought I'd lived too long in this neighborhood for anybody to accuse me of not knowing a thing when I pretended to, especially about trees." "Oh, no, no," interrupted she; "I always knew that you were a universal genius, a better gardener than half the professed ones." "Wal, I don't know about that," said Jarvis, his face beaming all over with satisfaction, for the old man was peculiarly susceptible to flattery. "Then you won't touch the tree?" cried Elizabeth, turning again towards her husband. Mr. Mellen had been watching her while she talked; he was growing more and more angry now, thinking that she only wished to interfere unwarrantably with his plans. "You will leave the tree till spring?" she continued. "I shall have the earth loosened," he answered, "I don't choose to sacrifice the tree to a mere caprice." "It is not a caprice," she exclaimed, forgetting herself once more. "I ask you not to touch it--I beg you not to touch it!" "Might I ask the reason of your extraordinary conduct?" he began; then remembering old Benson's presence, checked himself quickly.