I rooshed over wid me ho, thinking theres a snake or tode in the grass. “Look!” ses Miss Claire, trimbling wid excitement. “What! Where is the craychure?” “There! See, its me hedge!” ses she. “O Delia its the first showing. In a little wile it’ll grow bigger and bigger, and by and by therell be flours—beauties. And I” ses she “did it all mesilf—wid these hands. Don’t you see it—that little speck of grane.” “Sorrer a bit do I see darlint” ses I. “Why Delia! Its there oonless me eyes decave me.” “They don’t” ses a bold voice boldly, and the dood nixt door lanes over the fince and stares sintimintully at the spot where Miss Claire is poynting. She guv a little start and blushed. Then she arsks sarcarskully: “May I arsk if you can see it at that distunce?” “Certainly” ses he at wunce, “but I belave I cud see it better if I cam a little nearer.” Wid that he joomps over the fince and walks to where Miss Claire is neeling. Together they look at the airth. “Bully for you!” ses he offering to shake the hand which she holds back timidly. “Why” ses he “its—its a—a rose, is’nt it?” ses he. “No” ses Miss Claire withdroring the hand she had joost surrindered. “Its a hullyhock” ses she. “Well its fine anyhow” ses he, looking at her wid both his eyes popping out of his hed. “Youre quite a horty culchurist” ses he. “O no indade” ses she, “its me first attimp. Do you” ses she “know anything about it?” “Well” ses he “I can tell a vylet from a rose and a dandylion from a daysy.” “Then” ses she, “you wont be intrested in my little gardin.” “Wont I” ses he, so vylently she drops her eyes. “Why I’m ackshully captifated by that little speck of green” ses he. “Aren’t you its creator?” “Wate till it begins to bloom” ses she enthoosicully. Joost thin she seen her brothers coming in wid the bote oars on their shoulders. She started away from the dood, and wint narvissly to meet thim. The dood histated a moment, and then wint ap to the boys. He hild out his hand. “I’m your next dure naybor” ses he “and I drapped over to make a corl.” “How do” ses Mr. James giving him a corjul shake “Pretty good bathing here” ses he “Ever go out?” “O yes” ses the dood “We have a little privit beech of our own. Your welcom to use it any time.” Mr. James frowned. “The public beech is good enuff” ses he shortly, but Mr. John ses at wance: “Thank you I’ll thry your place sum day.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XIV ANOTHER DAY “James” ses Mr. Wolley coming into brikfust at an oonexpected airly our “you’re a frord and raskill sir” ses he. The family all looked startled.