every advantage. The pattern of roses growing on a trellis was brighter than
any flower-bed in June; and the border--well, if the border had been five
dollars a foot Stephen would not have grudged the money when he saw the twenty
running yards of rosy bloom rioting under the white ceiling.

Before he blew out the last light he raised it high above his head and took
one fond, final look. "It's the only place I ever saw," he thought, "that is
pretty enough for her. She will look just as if she was growing here with all
the other flowers, and I shall always think of it as the garden of Eden. I
wonder, if I got the license and the ring and took her by surprise, whether
she'd be married in June instead of August? I could be all ready if I could
only persuade her."

At this moment Stephen touched the summit of happiness; and it is a curious
coincidence that as he was dreaming in his garden of Eden, the serpent, having
just arrived at Edgewood, was sleeping peacefully at the house of Mrs. Brooks.

It was the serpent's fourth visit that season, and he explained to inquiring
friends that his former employer had sold the business, and that the new
management, while reorganizing, had determined to enlarge the premises, the
three clerks who had been retained having two weeks' vacation with half pay.

It is extraordinary how frequently "wise serpents" are retained by the
management on half, or even full, salary, while the services of the "harmless
doves" are dispensed with, and they are set free to flutter where they will.



IX