But Polly was spared the necessity of making any reply, by a
sudden voice behind her.

"And so this is your garden, Mrs. Adams! It's a likely place for
petunias and sweet williams, but I don't think much of those new-
fangled things," pointing to a brilliant bed of dwarf nasturtiums
near by. Then she went on in a sing-song tone,--

"'So I've come out to view the land
Where I must shortly lie.'"

"Needn't think I expect to lie in your garden, though," she hastily
added, evidently fearful of being misunderstood.

"Hush, Alan! you must not laugh at her," said Polly, stifling her
own merriment as best she could.

But Miss Bean, absorbed in her eloquence, had passed on out of
hearing, and Jean returned to the charge.

"Come, Alan, there's a dear boy," she began persuasively, "tell us
about the girls."

"I don't know much about them," answered Alan. "Katharine is the
older one, about fifteen, and Jessie is just my age. Her birthday
is the third and mine the seventh. I suppose they're well enough,
but their pictures look a little toploftical, and I'm not over
fond of that kind. They are going to bring their pony, if they
come, and that will be fun, if mother will only let me ride him."