d wiped it away.

"Barjona, lad," he pleaded tremulously, "only just this one tree--nowt
else; just this one tree, there's a good lad."

"I've said my say," replied Barjona.

"Take no notice of him, Ted," said Ben. "I'll give you one o' t'
grandest rose-trees i' Yorkshire. Let t' old skinflint have his tree."

"Nay, but I mun hev it, I mun hev it," moaned the old man. "I mun hev
it, lad; I mun hev it."

I wondered if I could influence Barjona, and I stepped up to him.

"Mr. Higgins, you see how distressed Ted is. Surely you will not make
the parting more bitter for him. Think how unpleasant it will be for
you to live among us if you make us all your enemies."

"Much obliged, Miss 'Olden.... If you mind your business ... I'll
mind mine."

"But why are you so set upon it, Mr. Higgins?"

"'Cos I am ... that's enough ... that plant's mine, an' mine it's goin'
to be."

I turned to Ted. "Cannot you make up your mind to do without it?" I
asked. "Do you want it so very much?"

He nodded, and the tears now followed each other fast down his cheeks.
"I mun hev it; I mun hev it," he moaned.

We were all gathered round now; not a soul was left in the roadway, and
the flower-beds were suffering.

"But why?" I persisted. "What makes you so very anxious to have it?
You shall have another just as fine. Why do you want this particular
one so badly?"

He shook his head, and raised his sleeve to his brow with the old
nervous, familiar action.

"Cannot you tell me?" I asked.

Then the answer came, low but clearly heard by everybody: "_Shoo_ liked
it!"

The shame of the confession made him shake from head to foot, but the
revelation of unsuspected deeps thrilled us, every one, and set us on
fire with indignation and contempt.

"You heard him!" I said, turning to Barjona. "Now listen! I will give
you five pounds for that rose-bush."

"That--tree--will--bide--where--it--is," replied Barjona doggedly.

There was a movement in the crowd as a raging woman forced her way
through. She was hatless, like the rest of us, but her arms were bare
to the elbows. Until I noticed the tightly-coiled hair I did not
recognise Barjona's wife, for the usually pleasant face was clouded in
storm.

She strode up to her husband and seized him by the collar of his coat
with both hands.

"You heartless rascal!" she hissed in his ears; "so this is your
blessed secret 'at you've kept for a surprise, is it? I'll surprise
ye,