Mary's Meadow, and Other Tales of Fields and Flowers

alked about it. But every day I expected that the Old Squire would send a

n't ask you what you think, for I could not have told him about the Squire. He said I was below par, and that it was our abominable English climate, and he sent me a bottle of tonic. And when I had taken half the bottle, and had b

we were doing, and what we were going to do, or I should have been far more afraid of her than of Bessy's aunt. For the Weeding Woman has a good deal of delicacy, and often begs

r game after one of Christ

of luncheon, he looks at Christopher's empty place, and says, "I wonder what those two are talking about over their pudding. They are the queerest pair of friends." If we ask Chris what the

-hose, Chris went to have luncheon with Aunt Cat

ing each other a good de

, hardly. But I told her lots. My apple fritter got cold whilst I was te

d you te

r Daffodils, and about my birthday; and I told her Cowslips-a

t field your Father went to law about?" and my teeth chattered so with fright that I think Lady Catherine would have heard them if she hadn't been blowing her nose. But, luckily for me, Arthur said, "Oh, we never go near Mary's Meadow now, we're so busy." And then Aunt Catherine asked what made us think of my name, and I repeated most of the bit from Alphonse K

" asked Aunt Catherine, sticking her gold

id Arthur, after th

said Aunt

eon, I was asked too. Father laugh

one man indoors-James; but Aunt Catherine has three-a butler, a footman, and a second footman. The second footman kept near Christopher, who sat opposite Aunt Catherine (she made me

herine began to talk

serve them that have no

ook his head,

atherine; "better ta

?" asked Christopher. "T

o replenish the silver mug, which had been Lady Catherine's when she was a little girl

you could be

to see what you want, and gives it of himself, or sends it by the footman. He looks just as if he was having his photograph taken, staring at a point on the wall and thinking

e must turn angry, and scold Chris for being rude, she only begins to laugh

st and water doesn't ge

ery easily affronted about his head. He was affronted now, and began to eat his bread-and-butter

ou something. Put the sugar and cream on

ry quietly, and Aun

build it, and spoil one of my best peeps from the Rhododendron Walk. I went to see a young cousin of mine, who

ed himself, and was selecting currants from his pud

ng, and wear out so many boots, that they are a

, and looked as he always looks

he workhouse, Aunt

uldn't answer for his horses with bugles, and perhaps guns, going off when you least expect them. I told her I would ask them to dinner; and I did, but they were engaged. Well, yesterday I changed my mi

th his pudding again, but

nnon, just

masses of wild clematis scrambling everywhere, so that the hedge l

to me across the table very kindly. She has a fat h

think came into m

er," said Chri

hink of hedgeflowers, and tra

hook my hand her

travellers to have such nice flowers," said Ch

ht not one traveller in a dozen paid much attention to them-begging John Parkinson's pardon-and how much more in want of flowers people 'that have no garden'

thly Paradise?

march about in, now they've cut down all the trees, and planted sentry-boxes, I put my best bonnet out of th

hris, as brusquely

t for

Gardener?"

, and you lose them, I may forgive you-I shall know that was an accident; but if I lend you a basket, and you don't return it, don't look me in the face again. I always write my name on them, so there's no excuse. And I don

and water, plea

a rule, but when I saw that basket I said, 'Hobbs, you've been very extravagant.' He looked ashamed of himself, but he said, 'I unde

of Hobbs," said Ch

Catherine, "the f

acks?" asked Chris, "and what

red Sèvres bowl that was my Grandmother's, and there it was, filled with bramble leaves and Traveller's Joy (which she calls Old Man's Beard; Kitty always would differ from her elders!),

t?" asked Chris, disposing of his reserve of cur

ing more amusing, and then she said, 'I could cry for

ce), and then got down from his chair and went up to Lady Catherine, and threw his arms round her as far as

therine said, "Will you take me into the

said "Yes" w

Catherine, getting up and giving a hand to

eemed a good deal disturbed in his mind. Presentl

e what, yo

he name I invented for myself. But you'll have

at name to yourself,"

er looked

like to be called

ot!" said Au

that's a boy's name. You shall be Daffodil, not a dwarf daffodil, but a big one, because you are big. Wait a minute-I know which you

and Lady Catherine hu

day?" asked Father

ine. Much most,"