|
||||||||
Yes, I could do it, child, if you want a bit o garden. These long evenings I could work at taking in a little bit o the wastejust enough for a root or two o flowers for you; and again i the morning I could have a turn wi the spade before I sat down to the loom. Why didnt you tell me before as you wanted a bit o garden? I can dig it for you, Master Marner, said the young man in fustian, who was now by Eppies side, entering into the conversation without the trouble of formalities. Itll be play to me after Ive done my days work, or any odd bits o time when the works slack. And Ill bring you some soil from Mr. Casss garden; hell let me, and willing. Eh, Aaron, my lad, are you there? said Silas; I wasnt aware of you; for when Eppies talking o things I see nothing but what shes a-saying. Well, if you could help me with the digging, we might get her a bit o garden all the sooner. Then, if you think well and good, said Aaron, Ill come to the Stone-pits this afternoon, and well settle what lands to be taken in, and Ill get up an hour earlier i the morning, and begin on it. But not if you dont promise me not to work at the hard digging, father, said Eppie. For I shouldnt ha said anything about it, she added, half bashfully, half roguishly, only Mrs. Winthrop said as Aaron ud be so good, and And you might ha known without mother telling you, said Aaron. And Master Marner knows too, I hope, as Im able and willing to do a turn o work for him, and he wont do me the unkindness to anyways take it out o my hands. There, now, father; you wont work in it till its all easy, said Eppie, and you and me can mark out the beds, and make holes and plant the roots. Itll be a deal livelier at the Stone-pits when weve got some flowers, for I always think the flowers can see us and know what were talking about. And Ill have a bit o rosemary and bergamot and thyme, because theyre so sweet-smelling; but theres no lavenderonly in the gentlefolks gardens, I think. Thats no reason why you shouldnt have some, said Aaron, for I can bring you slips of anything; Im forced to cut no end of em when Im gardening, and throw em away mostly. Theres a big bed o lavender at the Red House; the missis is very fond of it. Well, said Silas gravely, so as you dont make free for us, or ask for anything as is worth much at the Red House; for Mr. Casss been so good to us, and built us up the new end o the cottage, and given us beds and things, as I couldnt abide to be imposin for garden-stuff or anything else. No, no, theres no imposin, said Aaron; theres never a garden in all the parish but what theres endless waste in it for want o somebody as could use everything up. Its what I think to myself sometimes, as there need nobody run short o victuals if the land was made the most on, and there was never a morsel but what could find its way to a mouth. It sets one thinking o thatgardening does. But I must go back now, else mother ull be in trouble as I arent there. Bring her with you this afternoon, Aaron, said Eppie; I shouldnt like to fix about the garden and her not know everything from the firstshould you, father? Ay, bring her if you can, Aaron, said Silas; shes sure to have a word to say asll help us to set things on their right end. Aaron turned back up the village, while Silas and Eppie went on up the lonely sheltered lane. O daddy! she began, when they were in privacy, clasping and squeezing Silass arm, and skipping round to give him an energetic kiss. My little old daddy! Im so glad. I dont think I shall want anything |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details. | ||||||||