"You miserable old devil!" she cried. "Oh, if I were only a man I'd thrash ye while ever I could stand over ye. Yes, I would, if they sent me to gaol for 't. I wish the earth 'ud open an' swalla' ye up. But t' varry worms 'ud turn at ye." Barjona thrust his hands deep into his trousers' pockets and assumed an air of weariness. "Isn't there a man among ye?" continued the infuriated woman. "Ben, haven't ye spunk enough to fell 'im to t' ground? Eh, these men! God forgive me 'at I call 'em men!" She fell back, and burst into hysterical tears, and Ben made another attempt. "What the hangment do ye mean by it, Mr. Higgins? Have ye no 'eart at all? Ye'll never miss t' tree. I'll give you two just as good out of our own garden, hanged if I won't. Let him take t' tree, an' we'll be going." "He--leaves--that--tree--where--it--is," replied Barjona with emphasis; "an' ye can all clear out o' this garden.... That tree's mine." Ben took Ted's arm, but the old man refused to move. A tear forced its way out of the corner of his eye, and he drew a red cotton handkerchief from his trousers' pocket and wiped it away. "Barjona, lad," he pleaded tremulously, "only just this one tree--nowt else; just this one tree, there's a good lad." "I've said my say," replied Barjona. "Take no notice of him, Ted," said Ben. "I'll give you one o' t' grandest rose-trees i' Yorkshire. Let t' old skinflint have his tree." "Nay, but I mun hev it, I mun hev it," moaned the old man. "I mun hev it, lad; I mun hev it." I wondered if I could influence Barjona, and I stepped up to him. "Mr. Higgins, you see how distressed Ted is. Surely you will not make the parting more bitter for him. Think how unpleasant it will be for you to live among us if you make us all your enemies." "Much obliged, Miss 'Olden.... If you mind your business ... I'll mind mine." "But why are you so set upon it, Mr. Higgins?" "'Cos I am ... that's enough ... that plant's mine, an' mine it's goin' to be." I turned to Ted. "Cannot you make up your mind to do without it?" I asked. "Do you want it so very much?" He nodded, and the tears now followed each other fast down his cheeks. "I mun hev it; I mun hev it," he moaned. We were all gathered round now; not a soul was left in the roadway, and the flower-beds were suffering. "But why?" I persisted. "What makes you so very anxious to have it? You shall have another just as fine. Why do you want this particular one so badly?" He shook his head, and raised his sleeve to his brow with the old nervous, familiar action. "Cannot you tell me?" I asked. Then the answer came, low but clearly heard by everybody: "_Shoo_ liked it!" The shame of the confession made him shake from head to foot, but the revelation of unsuspected deeps thrilled us, every one, and set us on fire with indignation and contempt. "You heard him!" I said, turning to Barjona. "Now listen! I will give you five pounds for that rose-bush."