I explained my views and he explained his, and then we both explained them together; he said I was very obstinate, and I said he was not allowing me a free hand. He said he did, and I said, "Then may I do it?" He said, "Certainly not," and I said, "Very good, then, I resign the garden." I heard his laugh--a hearty one--as I marched with dignity back to the drawing-room.
"Well!" the Others cried, "you look as though you had had a lively time."
"I could have told you exactly what his Reverence would say and saved you the trouble of a row."
I tried to squash Jim with a look, but nothing under many hundredweights could do that. So I said coldly,
"We had no row; and little boys don't always know what their elders will say."
"Bet you I know what _he_ said to you. And on the whole I agree with him. It's no use taking a bigger bite than you can chew."
"It isn't a bigger bite than--Jim, you are very vulgar! But I don't care now, I have given up the garden."
"Resigned your stewardship!" said Jim, tragically. "Anything over of the five pounds? I wouldn't retire yet, you can't have saved enough."
"Don't talk nonsense, Mary. At least, it doesn't matter _what_ you talk, you can't do it," said one of the Others.
"Can't I? we shall see," hardening my heart.
"What did his Reverence say to your resignation?"
"He laughed! I heard him," said Jim, "and he is splitting his sides telling the Young Man all about it."
"He isn't! Jim, go quick, interrupt them. I won't let them talk of m--my garden."
Jim is really a nice boy; he swaggered off with his hands in his pockets, whistling, and joined the two men. I knew he would give the conversation the turn I wished.
I began to cool down. It was easy to say I would "resign" the garden, but could I? Putting pride aside, was not my interest in all those young promising plants for the spring too deep for me now to desert them? Had I not rooted, amongst other things, too much of myself in my garden for me now lightly to withdraw?
While I pondered I strolled down the garden, and coming up the other side ran into the group of three viewing the holly hedge from the back.
"It is one of the best holly hedges I have ever seen," his Reverence was saying. "Cut it down! Why, it would be sheer madness."