's coming my way at last--God bless her!

May 24th. I renewed my suit to Georgiana.

May 27th. I besought Georgiana to hear me.

May 28th. For the last time I offered my hand in marriage to the
elder Miss Cobb. Now I am done with her forever. I am no fool.

May 29th. Oh, _damn_ Mrs. Walters!

XVI

This morning, the 3d of June, I went out to pick the first dish
of strawberries for my breakfast. As I was stooping down I heard
a timid, playful voice at the window like the echo of a year ago:
"Are you the gardener?"

Since Georgiana will not marry me, if she would only let me alone!

"Old man, are you the gardener?"

"Yes, I'm the gardener. I _know_ what _you_ are."

"How much do you ask for your strawberries?"

"They come high. _Nothing_ of mine is to be as cheap hereafter as
it has been."

"I am so glad--for your sake. I should like to possess _something_
of yours, but I suppose everything is too high now."

"Entirely too high!"

"If I only could have foreseen that there would be an increase of
value! As for me, I have felt that I am getting cheaper lately.
I may have to _give_ myself away soon. If I only knew of some one
who loved the lower animals."

"The fox, for instance?"

"Yes; do you know of any one who would accept the present of a
fox?"

"Ahem! I wouldn't mind having a _tame_ fox. I don't care much
for wild foxes."

"Oh, this one would get tame--in time."

"I don't believe I know of any one just at present."

"Very well. Sylvia will get the highest mark in arithmetic. And
Joe is distinguishing himself at West Point. That's what I wanted
to tell you. I'll send you over the cream and sugar, and hope you
will enjoy all your berries. _We_ shall buy some in the market-house
next week."

Later in the forenoon I sent the strawberries over to Georgiana.
I have a variety that is the shape of the human heart, and when
ripe it matches in color that brighter current of the heart through
which runs the hidden history of our passions. All over the top
of the dish I carefully laid these heart-shaped berries, and under
the biggest one, at the very top, I slipped this little note: "Look
at the shape of them, Georgiana! I send them all to you. They
are perishable."

This afternoon Georgiana sent back the empty dish, and inside the
napkin was this note: "They are exactly the shape and color of my
emery needle-bag. I have been polishing my needles in it for many