As Margaret glanced up and caught the humorous twinkle of the doctor’s eyes, she said quietly: “I leave the settlement of the matter in your hands, while I watch your effort in getting the pig to market. I shall have need to learn all I can.”
Mr. Smith, of the real estate firm of Harris & Smith, was a portly, self-satisfied man, who regarded the applicants for the little place at Idlewild with a somewhat lofty stare over the rim of his gold eye-glasses. It was quite evident from his manner that so small a transaction as this was not considered worth any extra amount of civility. But the pompous manner neither abashed nor diverted Dr. Ely from his purpose. With a man’s decision and firmness he stated his wishes, met objections, overcame difficulties, and obtained satisfactory results, with such facility that Margaret felt herself well-nigh overwhelmed in the dismal swamp of her own incapacity.
When the contract for the specific performance of each had been duly drawn and signed, and Dr. Ely, Margaret, and Elsie had once more regained the sidewalk, the doctor asked: “Well, Miss Margaret, did I get my pig to market?”
“As I should never have dared to do.”
“I knew it,” and the doctor’s face grew suddenly grave. “It is a big undertaking for a slender untried woman.”
“No,” said Margaret gently, “not when I have such an adviser.”
“Well, I intend to see you safely settled before I leave. There is a great deal in getting started right.”
“I haven’t a demur to make—not even an expostulation as to the trouble you are making yourself. The time to assert my independence will be when I am monarch of all I survey.”
“You’ll have nothing to do now for three years to come but develop your skill as a gardener. I fancy you will not find altogether easy work or satisfactory returns.”
“I do not expect to. I have my apprenticeship yet to learn; but it seems to promise more than any other available thing. Besides, I shall count even mistakes as so much marketable goods in the future, if I am only wise enough to profit by them.”