now."

He was turning away--that action deprived her of all self-control--she
caught his arm, crying:

"Don't touch that tree--don't go near it."

He stopped and looked at her in blank amazement; she saw the danger in
which her impetuosity had placed her--dropped his arm and tried to
appear composed again.

"What is the matter with you?" he asked. "The tree is not a human being
that I am going to assassinate."

She forced herself to laugh; even then the woman's self-mastery was
something astounding.

"I was a little theatrical," she said; "but I can't bear to have the old
tree touched."

"Why, marm, it'll die if it ain't," put in Jarvis, who considered that
he had been silent quite long enough.

"You don't know anything about the matter!" cried Elizabeth, sharply.

The old man drew himself up, and looked so indignant that she felt sure
he would oppose her now with might and main.

"I mean," she added, "you don't know how I feel about it, I want the
poor thing left alone."

The old man relinquished his erect attitude and looked somewhat
mollified.

"If it's yer whim, marm, that's another thing, but I thought I'd lived
too long in this neighborhood for anybody to accuse me of not knowing a
thing when I pretended to, especially about trees."

"Oh, no, no," interrupted she; "I always knew that you were a universal
genius, a better gardener than half the professed ones."

"Wal, I don't know about that," said Jarvis, his face beaming all over
with satisfaction, for the old man was peculiarly susceptible to
flattery.

"Then you won't touch the tree?" cried Elizabeth, turning again towards
her husband.

Mr. Mellen had been watching her while she talked; he was growing more
and more angry now, thinking that she only wished to interfere
unwarrantably with his plans.

"You will leave the tree till spring?" she continued.

"I shall have the earth loosened," he answered, "I don't choose to
sacrifice the tree to a mere caprice."

"It is not a caprice," she exclaimed, forgetting herself once more. "I
ask you not to touch it--I beg you not to touch it!"

"Might I ask the reason of your extraordinary conduct?" he began; then
remembering old Benson's presence, checked himself quickly.

"I think it the best thing for the tree," he added.

"But Jones did not think so, and he ought to know."

"I fancy he said that to avoid the work."

"No, no! In the spring you can do it--not now--not now."

"By spring it w