"You don't know anything about the matter!" cried Elizabeth, sharply.
The old man drew himself up, and looked so indignant that she felt sure he would oppose her now with might and main.
"I mean," she added, "you don't know how I feel about it, I want the poor thing left alone."
The old man relinquished his erect attitude and looked somewhat mollified.
"If it's yer whim, marm, that's another thing, but I thought I'd lived too long in this neighborhood for anybody to accuse me of not knowing a thing when I pretended to, especially about trees."
"Oh, no, no," interrupted she; "I always knew that you were a universal genius, a better gardener than half the professed ones."
"Wal, I don't know about that," said Jarvis, his face beaming all over with satisfaction, for the old man was peculiarly susceptible to flattery.
"Then you won't touch the tree?" cried Elizabeth, turning again towards her husband.
Mr. Mellen had been watching her while she talked; he was growing more and more angry now, thinking that she only wished to interfere unwarrantably with his plans.
"You will leave the tree till spring?" she continued.