"
"You could do some landscape gardening for a place like this, I
should think."
Jim stared at her, and drew himself up haughtily. "It really is late,
Miss Orr," he said. "I think, if you will allow me, I will take you
home."
"What are you angry about?"
"I am not angry."
"Yes, you are. You are angry because I said that about landscape
gardening."
"I am not a beggar or a man who undertakes a job he is not competent
to perform, if I am poor."
"Will you undertake setting those grounds to rights, if I buy the
place?"
"Why don't you hire a regular landscape man if you have so much
money?" asked Jim rudely.
"I would rather have you. I want somebody I can work with. I have my
own ideas. I want to hire you to work with me. Will you?"
"Time enough to settle that when you've bought the place. You must go
home now. Here, take my arm. This sidewalk is an apology for one."
Lydia took the young man's arm obediently, and they began walking.
"What on earth are you going to do with all that truck you bought?"
asked Jim.
Lydia laughed. "To tell you the truth, I haven't the slightest idea,"
said she. "Pretty awful, most of it, isn't it?"
"I wouldn't give it house room."
"I won't either. I bought it, but I won't have it."
"You must take us for a pretty set of paupers, to throw away money
like that."
"Now, don't you get mad again. I did want to buy it. I never wanted
to buy things so much in my life."
"I never saw such a queer girl.
Pages:
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45