“That isn’t much of a compliment, Lady Merrifield,” laughed her brother. “There are not many Sardises for me to compete with.” For an instant the child looked blank. Then she brightened. “Anyway, you’re the best _brother_ in the world!” she exclaimed. “You can’t say anything against that!” “I could say a good deal against it,” smiling across to Polly; “but I won’t, for”--his face suddenly sobered--“I am mighty glad you think so, Dorothy.” CHAPTER XXIII IN THE “GARDEN OF EDEN” After Sardis Merrifield’s visit Polly plunged into action with an energy that called out comment from her associates. She took the children on long drives until they had jaunted through nearly every town within fifty miles. In company with those small people that could walk she explored the near-by woods and fields and came home loaded with all manner of trophies. With help from Dr. Abbe she fashioned flower baskets and boxes in various shapes and sizes and filled them with her wild treasures in their native soil. She designed rustic seats under the trees, a wonderful sun arbor adjoining the side veranda, and she superintended the carpenters while they carried out her plans. “What in the world ails you?” queried Lilith. “If I didn’t know you so well, I should say you were trying to work off something unpleasant.” Polly laughed a queer little laugh, so queer that Lilith glanced across the room--and then quickly turned back. Polly, brushing some litter from the floor, was blushing furiously into the dustpan. Lilith’s mind ran rapidly over the happenings of the past few days--and then she, too, began to blush. But she did not see herself and so went on with her thoughts. Polly and Dr. Abbe had been thrown together a good deal of late--could there be anything--? The White Nurse was calling her name, and she ran to answer. That afternoon Lilith came upon Polly in the kitchen with Benedicta, learning to make the small cocoanut cakes which were Dr. Abbe’s especial delight. Then Lilith thought more thoughts, and without any sensible reason went sadly the rest of the day. The children had been begging for a picnic, so Lilith and the White Nurse took them down the mountain to a place which Dolly Merrifield had named the “Garden of Eden.” It was a pretty spot, set with pines and birches, and fringed with bushes of various kinds, many of them now hung with berries. Pine-needles formed a thick, slippery carpet, and the sun filtered through the trees in an enchanting way. A few hours later Dr. Abbe started for the picnic ground with two heavy baskets, Polly and Benedicta following with some frosted cakes, that the housekeeper would entrust to nobody else. “Who is that girl talking with Lilith?” questioned Polly, halting at a point where one first caught a view of the delectable “garden.” Benedicta came up and narrowed her eyes to focus them on the stranger.