Mary was afraid that she might begin to ask difficult questions, but
she did not. She was very much interested in the seeds and gardening
tools, and there was only one moment when Mary was frightened. This was
when she began to ask where the flowers were to be planted.
Who did tha ask about it? she inquired.
I haven t asked anybody yet, said Mary, hesitating.
Well, I wouldn t ask th head gardener. He s too grand, Mr. Roach is.
I ve never seen him, said Mary. I ve only seen undergardeners and
Ben Weatherstaff.
If I was you, I d ask Ben Weatherstaff, advised Martha. He s not
half as bad as he looks, for all he s so crabbed. Mr. Craven lets him
do what he likes because he was here when Mrs. Craven was alive, an he
used to make her laugh. She liked him. Perhaps he d find you a corner
somewhere out o the way.
If it was out of the way and no one wanted it, no one _could_ mind my
having it, could they? Mary said anxiously.
There wouldn t be no reason, answered Martha. You wouldn t do no
harm.
Mary ate her dinner as quickly as she could and when she rose from the
table she was going to run to her room to put on her hat again, but
Martha stopped her.
I ve got somethin to tell you, she said. I thought I d let you eat
your dinner first. Mr. Craven came back this mornin and I think he
wants to see you.
Mary turned quite pale.
Oh! she said. Why! Why! He didn t want to see me when I came. I
heard Pitcher say he didn t.
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