think
of? We are actually full-blown tradesmen, Aunt Emma. 'Hender and Co.,
Florists and Market-Gardeners. Fresh eggs and poultry daily. Moderate
prices.' That is what is to be painted over the shop window. Oh, Aunt
Emma, can you believe it? I can't. It doesn't seem real a bit," and she
threw her arms round Aunt Emma too, and hugged her in her excitement.

"Well!" gasped Miss Hender, really overcome. "Well!" and for a time she
could not find another word to say.

"I can't believe it," she said later, as they sat around the tea-table.
"P'raps when I've seen the place and the name painted up I shall be able
to."

"And when you see the brass scales----"

"And have the cleaning of them," put in Aunt Emma, with a knowing nod.
"If you are all given up to growing things and selling them, somebody must
do the housework and the cleaning, and that'll be my part, I reckon."

"Mine too, Aunt Emma; I'll keep the shop tidy."

"You can help at any rate," said Aunt Emma, for Margery, strangely enough,
had, as she grew, shown a greater liking for housework than for gardening.

"I would clean the shop, and polish the scales and things," said Bella
meekly.

"Oh no, you couldn't," interrupted Aunt Emma, feeling that she had perhaps
been a little severe. "You can't do everything. If you help earn our
living for us all, it is our work to look after the house. You haven't
got time and strength for both. Don't you be trying to do too much,
Bella. You're barely seventeen yet, you know." Aunt Emma's voice
trembled a little, for she still found it hard to let any one see the
kindly feeling that was in her heart.

"Will you have to live in Norton altogether?" asked Margery dolefully, for
she did not like the thought of losing Tom and Bella.

Bella, who read her feelings, hastened to comfort her. "Oh no," she
cried; "we've only taken the shop and a room behind it. Such a nice
little room, Aunt Emma. You will have to come in and have tea there
sometimes. The top part of the house is let to some one else. We shall
drive in every day with the fresh things to sell, and come home at night.
I think florists and greengrocers--doesn't it sound grand, daddy?--don't
do much after the morning, and I should think we could shut the shop at
four or five in the afternoon every day but Saturdays. Don't you,
father?"

"May I come in sometimes and serve the customers?" asked Maggie eagerly.

"Of course you shall."

"When I've go