160 BRAGGADOOIO.

poor little garden, when she has lots and lots
of them at home.”

“ Not that she can call her own, Tom. She
told me the cross gardener wouldn’t let her
_ pick a single flower. I do not mind your
laughing at me, one bit. I dare say Ada
Cramer would like to work in a garden just as
I do. I should not love my flowers half
so well, if I didn’t dig and poke round them,
and pull them up, and put them down, and
pick them, just when I choose.”

“Go your own way, Bessie; it generally
proves to be the right one.”

“Ts queer that folks can’t take comfort in
what they have. Howard likes to come to our
house, I do believe, because there is nothing
there that he can do any harm to. At Rose
Lawn the gardener won’t let him play in
the garden—the coachman drives him out of
the stable, and Mrs. Cramer won’t let them
even play battle-door, for fear of wearing out
the carpets.”

“Poor children,” said Tom, laughing hear-
tily ; “they would think it was very funny for
us to pity them.”