ers stained with green. Only Billy's bachelor's-button stood up
stiff and sturdy, slightly flushed with imbibing the night dew, and
tipped me an impertinent wink. I felt cheered at the sight of them and
bent down to gather a bunch of them to wear, even if they did swear at
my amethyst draperies, when an amused smile that was done out loud came
from the path just behind me.

"Don't gather them all to-night, Mrs. Peaches," said Doctor John
teasingly, as he stooped beside me. "Leave a few for--for the others."
I waked up in a half-second and so did all those prying flowers, I felt
sure.

"I was just gathering them for place bouquets for--for the girls," I
said stupidly as I moved over a little nearer to him. Why it is that the
minute that man comes near me I get warm and comfortable and stupid, and
as young as Billy, and bubbly and sad and happy and cross is more than I
can say, but I do. I never possibly know how to answer any remark that
he may happen to make unless it is something that makes me lose my
temper. His next remark was the usual spark.

"Better give them the run of the garden--alone, Mrs. Molly. No show for
'em unless you do," he said laughingly, "or the buttons' either," he
added under his breath so I could just hear it. I wish Mrs. Johnson
could have heard how soft his voice lingered over that little
half-sentence. She is so experienced she could have told me if it
meant--but of course he isn't like other men!

There are lots of questions I'm going to ask Alfred after I'm married to
him--Mr. Carter didn't know anything about anything and I never cared to
ask him, but I wonder how you know when--

"Oh, you Molly," came a hail in Tom's voice from the gate, just as I was
making up my mind to try and think up something to wither the doctor
with, and he and Ruth Chester came up the front walk to meet us. I
wondered why I was having a party in my house when being alone in my
garden with just a neighbor was so much more fun, but I had to begin to
enjoy myself right off, for in a few minutes all the rest came.

I don't think I ever saw my house look so lovely before. Mrs. Johnson
had put all the flowers out of hers and Mrs. Cain's garden all over
everything and the table was a mass of soft pink roses that were
shedding perfume and nodding at one another in their most society
manner. There is no glimmer in the world like that which comes from
really old polished silver and rosewood and mahogany, and one's
gre