To plant her box, she had to get out of another window onto the roof, but as Thomas took care she didn’t roll off in her enthusiasm, she was safe while at work.
First she put in the ferns at the back; Miss Larkin advising from her standpoint inside Mrs. Maynard’s room, and Thomas and Marjorie doing the actual planting. Then the lovely scarlet geraniums, and in front of them the tiny plants of sweet alyssum. This wasn’t yet in bloom, but they hoped it would be by the day of Mrs. Maynard’s arrival.
Also, Miss Larkin and Thomas helped the other two young gardeners below stairs.
King’s and Kitty’s boxes were longer than Marjorie’s, as they were verandah boxes.
King grew a little impatient at the necessary slowness of the work, and willingly accepted Thomas’s help; but Kitty was ambitious to do it all herself, and worked away untiringly.
It took nearly the whole day, but at last, when four o’clock found the boxes all complete, and a lovely mass of bright blossoms, the Maynards, though too tired for vigorous romping, were exuberant with joy.
“It was the loveliest idea, Larky!” said Marjorie, patting the lady’s face, with hands that showed traces of good brown earth. “I’m so glad you thought of it.”
“So’m I,” said Kitty and King, together.
“Now, go and get tidied,” said Miss Larkin, “and then I’ll give you further instructions.”
This didn’t sound very interesting, but when they came back to the living-room an hour later, clean, and rested, they found Miss Larkin waiting for them, with most attractive-looking little books in her hands.