imply to lay it down in any
spot he liked, and, behold, it grew and flourished! His fingers seemed
to possess the power to impart health and strength, and, thanks to his
care, Peggy soon felt safe from ridicule, at least on the score of her
garden, and could devote herself with an easy mind to the work indoors.
She experienced the usual string of aggravations which are known to
every one moving into a new house; tradesmen took twice the allotted
time to fulfil an order, and eventually sent home the wrong article;
patterns selected were invariably "out of stock"; escapes of gas made it
necessary to deface newly decorated walls; and effects which were
intended to be triumphs of artistic beauty, turned out snares and
disappointments. From the lofty frame of mind which aims at nothing
short of perfection, Peggy subsided by degrees into that resigned
melancholy in which the exhausted strugglers feel that "anything will
do," if only, by chance, a house may be made fit to live in.

It was on the occasion of a final visit to town, two days before the
removal, that Mrs Asplin surprised Peggy by expressing a desire to bear
her company.

"I have several things to do, and I should like to go when I can have
your help," she said; and the vicar's face instantly assumed an
expression of the profoundest dejection. He knew that his wife's
expeditions into town invariably demanded toll in the shape of a nervous
headache the next day, and hastened to raise his usual note of protest.
Why need she go? Could she not send her order by post, or could not
Peggy buy what was wanted? Why tire herself needlessly, when she had no
strength to spare? She knew very well--"How unwell I shall be!"
concluded his wife for him with a laugh. "Really and truly, Austin
dear, I want to do something this time that no one else can do for me.
I'll promise to be careful, and drive about all the time, and get a good
lunch."

"Penny omnibuses, and tea and scones! I know your days in town. Ah,
well, a wilful woman must have her way! If you have made up your mind
to go, it's no use arguing; but I don't know what it can be you need so
badly. We seem to have everything we need."

"Blessed, blessed, ignorance of man!" cried Peggy, rolling her eyes to
the ceiling. "It's all very well for you, sir, who can never wear
anything but a black coat and hat, but consider the fascinations of
summer fashions to poor defenceless women! Mrs Asplin and I want to
look