Quietly
he descended the stairs, and found the house-door already open; this
might only mean that the servant was already up, but he suspected
that the early riser was Jane. So it proved; he walked toward the
kitchen garden, and there stood his sister, the sun making her face
rosy.
"Come and help to pick scarlet runners," was her greeting, as he
approached. "Aren't they magnificent?"
Her eyes sparkled with pleasure as she pointed to the heavy clusters
of dark-green pods, hanging amid leaves and scarlet bloom.
"Splendid crop!" exclaimed Will, with answering enthusiasm.
"Doesn't the scent do one good?" went on his sister. "When I come
into the garden on a morning like this, I have a feeling--oh, I
can't describe it to you--perhaps you wouldn't understand--"
"I know," said Will, nodding.
"It's as if nature were calling out to me, like a friend, to come
and admire and enjoy what she has done. I feel grateful for the
things that earth offers me."
Not often did Jane speak like this; as a rule she was anything but
effusive or poetical. But a peculiar animation shone in her looks
this morning, and sounded in her voice. Very soon the reason was
manifest; she began to speak of the Applegarth business, and
declared her great satisfaction with it.
"There'll be an end of mother's worry," she said, "and I can't tell
you how glad I shall be. It seems to me that women oughtn't to have
to think about money, and mother hates the name of it; she always
has done.
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