Having formed this picture, he could not afterwards destroy it; and as they resumed their walk he began very simply to describe his mother's garden, she listening closely because of her love for flowers, which had become companions to her, and merely saying dreamily, half to herself and with guarded courtesy half to him, "It must be beautiful." * * * * * "The Mother Superior intends to make the garden larger next year, and to have fine flowers in it, Ezra. It has been a prosperous year in the school, and there will be money to spare. This row of lilacs is to be dug up, and the fence set back so as to take in the onion patch over there. When does he expect to go away?" The aged Sister had not made rapid progress. "I haven't heard him say," replied the old man. "Perhaps Martha has heard him say." Ezra only struck the toe of his stout boot with his staff. "The Mother Superior will want _you_ to dig up the lilacs, Ezra. You can do it better than any one else." The old man shook his head threateningly at the bushes. "I can settle them," he said. "Better than any one else. Has Martha heard him say when he is going away?" "To-morrow," he replied, conceding something in return for the lilacs. * * * * * "These are the chrysanthemums. They are white, but some are perfect and some are imperfect, you see. Those that are perfect are the ones to feel proud of, but the others are the ones to love." "If all were perfect would you no longer love them?" he said gently, thinking how perfect she was and how easy it would be to love her. "If all were perfect, I could love all alike, because none would need to be loved more than others." "And when the flowers in the garden are dead, what do you find to love then?" he asked, laughing a little and trying to follow her mood. "It would not be fair to forget them because they are dead. But they are not dead; they go away for a season, and it would not be fair to forget them because they have gone away." This she said simply and seriously as though her conscience were dealing with human virtues and duties. "And are you satisfied to love things that are not present?" he asked, looking at her with sudden earnestness. * * * * * "The Mother Superior will wish him to take away a favourable impression of the convent," said the Sister. "Young ladies are sometimes sent to us from that region." And now, having gotten from Ezra the information she desired and turned their steps towards the others, she looked at Helm with greater interest. "Should you like to go upon the observatory?" she meekly asked, pointing to the top of the adjacent building. "From there you can see how far the convent lands extend. Besides, it is the only point that commands a view of the whole country." The scene of the temptation was to be transferred to the pinnacle of the temple.