He
won't do it unless you tell him, and I promised them for the Altar
vases."
"You know, Armie, he said cutting them would be the ruin of the
plant, and I don't feel justified in destroying it."
"Macrae's fancy," muttered Armine. "It is only that he hates the
whole thing."
"Unhappy Macrae! I go and condole with him sometimes," said Bobus.
"I don't know which are most outraged-—his Freekirk or his
horticultural feelings!"
"Babie," ordered Armine, who was devouring his breakfast at double
speed, "if you'll put on your things, I've the garden donkey-cart
ready to take down the flowers. You won't expect us to luncheon,
mother?"
Barbara, though obedient, looked blank, and her mother said—-
"My dear, if I went down and helped at the Church till half past
twelve, could not we all be set free? Your brothers want us to bring
their luncheon to them at the Hanger."
"That's right, mother," cried Jock; "I've half a mind to come and
expedite matters."
"No, no, Skipjack!" cried Bobus; "I had that twenty stone of solid
flesh whom I see walking up to the house to myself all yesterday, and
I can't stand another day of it unmitigated!"
Entered the tall heavy figure of Rob. He reported his father as much
the same and not yet up, delivered a note to his aunt, and made no
objection to devouring several slices of tongue and a cup of cocoa to
recruit nature after his walk; while Bobus reclaimed the reluctant
Armine from cutting scarlet geraniums in the ribbon beds to show him
the scene in the Greek play which he was to prepare, and Babie tried
to store up all the directions, perceiving from the pupil's roving
eye that she should have to be his memory.
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