"When you plant the little fellow--you said you were going to, anyhow--would you plant him near me?" Phyllis looked down at the plant she held cradled in her arms and then up at the tree. "Of course, Magnolia," she said, frowning slightly. "I didn't realize...." Her voice began to tremble. "I _have_ been pretty rotten, haven't I?" She looked toward James, but he turned his glance away. "Just because you were a plant," Phyllis continued, "didn't mean I had to be a b-b-beast. It must have been awful for you, seeing me like this, practically crowing over you, and knowing that you yourself would never have the chance to be a m-m-m-mother." "'Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,'" Magnolia said sadly, "'and waste its sweetness on the desert air.'" * * * * * Phyllis was crying unashamedly now. "I'll plant him right next to you--Maggie. I want you to have him. He can be your baby." "Thank you, Phyl," Maggie said softly. "That's very ... blue of you." "Although I think that's a jim-dandy idea," the biologist said, "and I sure wouldn't want to do anything to discourage it, being real interested in the results of an experiment like that my own self, I don't think you ought to feel so mean about it, Miz Phyllis. If all she wanted--begging your pardon, Miss Magnolia, ma'am--was a baby, why didn't she take an interest in the holly until she found out it was a male? Why wouldn't a little old girl holly have done as well?" "Why--why, you scheming vegetable!" Phyllis exploded at Magnolia, clutching the holly plant to her protective bosom. "He's much too young for you, and I'm going to plant him far away, where he can't possibly fall into your clutches." "Now, Miss Phyllis, we-all mustn't look at things out of their proper perspective." "Then why did you take your hat off when you were introduced to Miss Magnolia, Cutler?" Dr. Lakin asked interestedly. "Sir, where I come from, we respect femininity, whether it be animal, vegetable or mineral. Nonetheless, we-all got to remember, though Miss Magnolia is unquestionably a lady, she is not a woman." Phyllis began to laugh hysterically. "You're right!" she gasped. "I had almost forgotten _she_ was only a tree. And that _it_ is only a little Christmas holly plant that's probably going to die, anyway--they almost always do." "That's cruel, Phyllis," James said, "and you know it is." "Do you really think I'm cruel? Are you going to tell the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Vegetables on me? But why am I cruel? I'm giving her the holly. That's what she wants, isn't it? Do you hear that, Miss Magnolia, ma'am? _He_'s all yours. We'll plant _him_ next to you--right away. And I hope _he_ doesn't die. I hope _he_ grows up to make you a good husband." * * * * *