He thrust his hand through the palings, and
gathered a crushed handful of the lavender blossoms: eagerly he inhaled
their perfume. Drawers and chests at "Gunn's" had been thick strewn with
lavender for half a century. All Hetty's clothes--Hetty herself--had
been full of the exquisite fragrance. The sound of quick pattering steps
roused him from his reverie. A bare-footed boy was driving a flock of
goats past. The child stopped and gazed intently at the stranger.

"Child, who lives in this little house?" said Dr. Eben, cautiously
hiding his stolen handful of lavender.

"Tantibba," replied the boy.

"What!" exclaimed the doctor. "I don't understand you. What is the
name?"

"Tantibba! Tantibba!" the child shouted, looking back over his shoulder,
as he raced on to overtake his goats. "Bo Tantibba." "Some old French
name I suppose," thought Dr. Eben: "but, it is very odd about the herbs;
the two growing together, so exactly as Hetty used to have them;" and he
walked reluctantly away, carrying the bruised lavender blossoms in his
hand, and breathing in their delicious fragrance. As he drew near the
inn, he observed on the other side of the way a woman hurrying in the
opposite direction. She had a sturdy thick-set figure, and her step,
although rapid, was not the step of a young person. She wore on her head
only a close white cap; and her gray gown was straight and scant: on her
arm she carried a basket of scarlet plaited straw, which made a fine bit
of color against the gray and white of her costume. It was just growing
dusk, and the doctor could not distinguish her features. At that
moment, a lad came running from the inn, and darted across the road,
calling aloud, "Tantibba! Tantibba!" The woman turned her head, at the
name, and waited till the lad came to her. Dr. Eben stood still,
watching them. "So that is Tantibba?" he thought, "what can the name
be?" Presently the lad came back with a bunch of long drooping
balm-stalks in his hand.

"Who was that you spoke to then?" asked the doctor.

"Tantibba!" replied the lad, hurrying on. Dr. Eben caught him by the
shoulder. "Look here!" he exclaimed, "just tell me that name again. This
is the fourth time I've heard it to-night. Is it the woman's first name
or what?" The lad was a stupid English lad, who had but recently come to
service in St. Mary's, and had never even thought to wonder what the
name "Tantibba," meant. He stared vacantly for a moment, and then said:

"Inde