38 MADGE’S MISTAKE,

of that hot-house is safe in my cottage, and
there it will stay till such time as I hands
it over to Robert, afore 1 goes away. Your
father knows it,” he continues, “and as he
never looks at them hisself after dinner,
‘taint quite likely I should give the key to
you, Miss Madge. No, no!” he says, as he
turns once more to his strawberry bed, “the
roses are doing well, and they sha’n’t be
touched by no one else but me, while I’m at
home.”

Although I am delighted at the success
of my plan, I still manage to get a crest-
fallen expression on my face, and as I turn
to leave him, I grumble, “ Well, you might
have lent it to me for a few minutes, I
think; you know I shouldn’t have hurt any-
thing.”

But by this time 1 am too far away to
hear anything he may be saying, and can
only see him shaking his head as he watches
my departure.

My next business is with Simmons, and I
tremble when I think of it; but, stay! a