THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 23

your sister; I only say that if he would it would be a great, great
pity for her to lose the chance of seeing so wonderful and so uncommon
a garden as ours.”

“ And I should like to see it extremely,” said Cowslip.

Clover came up to her, and pat his arm round her neck. “ You
know,” he said, in a low voice, “that we are coming very, very soon
to see a much more wonderful garden than the one which Bluebell
speaks about. Don’t let’s loiter on the way, Cowslip.”

‘“‘T must not linger on the road,
For I have far to go,”

said Cowslip suddenly. She remembered Mrs. Steadfast’s little verse,
and the colour rushed into her cheeks.

‘““T have had enough fruit,” she said ; “ thank you very much, little
girl. I must go now.”

“That is right,” said Clover.

The two children walked as far as the door of the cottage, when
Bluebell ran after them.

“T am sorry you are going away,” she said; “I am sorry you
won't stay to see my father. You have not offered to pay me for
the nice fruit I have given you.”

“Oh, I am so sorry,” said Clover, turning, his face flushing as
he spoke. “I never thought about paying you. How very wrong
of me.”

“ And I don’t want money payment,” said Bluebell, tears coming
into her eyes; “but I should like you both to kiss me before you
go, and here is a basket of strawberries for you, Cowslip, and a basket
of peaches and apples for you, Clover.”

“Thank you, thank you,” said both the children.

They each stooped down, and kissed pretty little Bluebell on her
forehead. Then they hastily left the cottage, carrying each their
basket of fruit.

When they had gone up the path, and were once more standing at
Cross Corners, undecided which road to take, they looked back, and
saw Bluebell standing in the doorway watching them.