“Delia! Why” ses she “I’m sitting out a flouring hidge. I’m follring the rules of the bist orthorities on hortyculcheer. See:” and she poynted to her pockets which were boolging out wid books. “All are agreed” ses she “that a gardin shud be begun wid a flouring hidge. My gardin will be one glow of luvliness from spring till frorst and maybe later. Its possible.” “But miss” ses I “ye’ll nade a gardiner for the tax” “Never! Why I’ve been setting up nites studying me subjeck. I expect to devoat——” just thin she guv a little joomp and her cheeks turned pink wid excitemint. “My goodness Delia!” ses she wispering, “th-theres _a_ man” ses she. “Whare?” ses I, glaring about me, riddy for war upon anny dirty tramps trispessing upon our place. “The other side the fince” ses she, wispering. I looked over, but seen no wan. “Are you quite _sure_?” asks she, trimbling a bit. “I am” ses I. She turned pale, and siesed hold of me arm. “Delia!” ses she whispering “d-d-d-do you remimber that—that—young man who——” “Is it your future hoosband ye’re maning?” “Nonsinse” ses she blushing, “but—but I meen him anyhow. Well—well—do you know—I—I—I’m afrade he’s _honting_ me” ses she. “My God miss” ses I “do you think he’s a banshee?” “No, no Delia—but—but well” ses she, “the fack is I’m always _thinking_ about him, and now—now ackshully I thort I saw him—over there” ses she. “Suppose” ses I “you tak a look again Miss Claire.” “I cant” ses she, shinking aginst me, “and beside the finse is so high. Its—its—much taller than I am” ses she. “Ah come on” ses I, and pulled her to the finse. “Here miss, I’ll lift you up,” and wid that I grabbed her by the waste and hawled her up. She screemed. I dropped her wid a boomp, for there looking over, rubbing his hed where Miss Claire has boomped aginst it, is the Madison Avenoo dood. Miss Claire tuk to her feet and wint flying tord the house, her books drapping out of her pockits as she run. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XI NEXT DAY Larst nite Miss Claire cum into me bedroom. She looked like a bit of a girl in her little frilled nitedress and her pretty hare hanging down her back in 2 curly brades. “Are you awake?” ses she turning on the lite. “Don’t be angry please Delia deer” ses she. “I wanted to talk to somewan.” She coodled oop aginst me, thin she laned over and whispered: “Delia, tell me the trooth, d-d-d-did you see him—k-kiss me?” ses she flushing all over. “The yung spalpeen!” ses I, and thin she hid her face in her hand. “Oh Delia I’m—I’m—so—_ashamed_ I d-don’t know _what_ to do.” “Do!” ses I. “Why tell your brothers darlint. They’ll swape the airth wid the impidint yung spalpeen.” “No, no, no! We must never breethe a word” ses she. “Promise me you wont, Delia,” and she sarches me face.