pholsterers;
and every morning she walked over to Yew Hedge and made a procession
round the rooms, to note what progress had been made since the day
before. Half-a-dozen men were at work, or, to be strictly accurate,
were _engaged_ to work, at the house; but beyond the fact that it grew
steadily dirtier and dirtier, and that the splashes of whitewash and
shavings of paper stretched further and further down the drive, it was
difficult to see what progress was being made.

Then Peggy made a desperate resolve, begged a bundle of sandwiches from
the old cook, packed it with sundry other properties in a basket, and
announced her intention of spending the day at Yew Hedge, and keeping
the men up to their work by the influence of her presence. Mrs Asplin
laughed at the idea of their being awed by anything so small and dainty,
but small as she was Miss Peggy had contrived to instil a very wholesome
awe of herself among the workmen. She never expressed open disapproval,
and was invariably courteous in manner, but there was a sting in her
stately speeches which made them wince, though they would have found it
difficult to explain the reason of their discomfiture. On the present
occasion the usual group of idlers was discovered lazing in the hall
when the little white figure appeared suddenly among them. They flushed
and slouched away, but the young lady was all smiles and amiability.

"Good-morning!" she cried. "I have brought my tools with me to-day, for
I am going to stay and garden. If you can spare the time, I shall be
much obliged if you will boil some water for me later on, but it will do
when you make your own tea. Don't let me interrupt your work! I shall
be in the garden, if you want to consult me at any time, so we shall all
be busy together!"

The abashed faces stared at her in a solid wall of discomfiture, and
Peggy retreated hastily, and paused behind a harberry fence to have her
laugh out, before repairing to the shed where the gardening tools were
stored. Then she unrolled an apron, tied it over her skirt, rolled up
her sleeves to protect the starched little cuffs, took a rake in one
hand and a hoe in the other, and surveyed the prospect. With ambition
untempered by ignorance, she had openly avowed her intention of
possessing the finest flowers in the county, and giving an object-lesson
in gardening to ignorant professors of the art, so that it was more than
time to begin preparation.

"The finest ga