“He is so good and thoughtful,” she murmured; and then she gave a little fluttering sigh and returned quietly to the house. “Did you see hit?” inquired Mrs. Higgins, as she entered. Norine nodded. “I’ll hev ther old man spade it all up for yer if yer like,” resumed Mrs. Higgins pacifically. “I don’t take no stock in hit myself.” “Spade it up?” cried Norine, flushing indignantly. “You must not touch it at all. I will care for it myself.” Whereupon Mrs. Higgins snorted, but said no more, only there was a sly, almost pleased expression on her grim face, very much as if she had drawn Norine on as far as she wanted to. The woods were still damp from the spring rains, so Norine was obliged to confine herself to the house and grounds for the day. Conway had left immediately after dinner to look after some of his patients; but he had promised to come out again in the evening. So Norine busied herself in unpacking her trunks and putting things in order for her summer stay. Then there were the little presents for the Higginses to be presented and commented upon, and altogether Norine found the day slip past and evening come long before she had finished. “Never mind,” she said to Mrs. Higgins. “The rest can wait.” And she went out to the gate, and was there when Conway arrived. “I am afraid that you should have something around you,” he said at once. “The evenings are chilly yet.” “There,” cried Norine; “you commence at me already, and I came out on purpose to meet you, too.” “I could better appreciate your kindness if it were not at the expense of your health,” replied Conway coolly. “You had better go in and get a shawl, and come to meet me again. I will wait here for you.” Norine laughed, but went for the shawl, nevertheless, leaving Conway leaning over the gate and pulling his mustache thoughtfully, as he watched her run lightly up the path. “Oh, Lester,” said Norine as she returned, panting a little, from her run. “I want to thank you for your kindness, and I don’t know how to do it. That flower-bed is just lovely.” She had joined him now, and they were walking slowly up the road. “I am amply repaid if it pleases you,” Conway replied, laughing a little. “I was very uneasy about that bed, for it was my first attempt at gardening, and I was in doubt as to the result. Now, since it pleases you, I am rather proud of my work.” “No wonder; it is pretty enough to make any one proud. I am half inclined to try it myself.” “Do so,” advised Conway. “I will give you some of the seed, and I think you will do better than I did; for I am afraid I pushed the season along a little in my experiment. But there, I wanted you to see it when you returned. And now,” he broke off abruptly, “tell me about New York. Have you plenty of company?” “Oh, plenty!” answered Norine, raising her eyebrows expressively; “and very entertaining company, too. We have a very pleasant house there,” she went on, “and some very pleasant friends.”