“Do I understand that you’re a-askin’ me to work for you, ma’am?” asked Joel Bell.
“You see, Mr. Bell,” Win interposed, “it’s this way: Mrs. Garden is nervous about driving with her daughters alone; I am busy all day, and she wants a trusty man to learn the car and to look after our big old garden. Maybe you know it? Hollyhock House, on the opposite side of town, rather outside it? On Picea Street?”
Joel Bell’s face glowed with unexpected enthusiasm. “I should say I did know the old Garden place!” he cried. “Are you Winchester Garden, that they call Win? Never once suspected who ’twas! I know a considerable of gardenin’, but cars ain’t in my line. Maybe they’d come to me, though. Would you make it wuth my while to accept your offer, ma’am? I’d have to hire a girl for my off-spring.”
“If you can learn to drive and take care of the garden, both, I’ll give you—fourteen pounds, was it, Win? Seventy-five dollars a month, did you say, Win? If you can’t drive, perhaps we’d keep you anyway, at about forty dollars or so,” said Mrs. Garden carelessly.
Joel’s eyes shot a gleam of triumphant joy, which his pride instantly recalled. “I’ll think it over, ma’am,” he said nonchalantly, “an’ let you know in a day or two. To who do I feel indebted for recommendin’?”
“Don’t know to whom you do feel indebted, Joel,” laughed Win, thinking it about time Mr. Bell came off his pedestal. “But it is Abbie Abbott, here, who told us of you.”
“Indeed!” said Joel, bowing as if he were acknowledging an introduction. “An’ t’ best o’ my knowledge an’ belief I never met the lady before now.”
“You didn’t! But my cousin Lemuel Abbott, the plumber, told me ’bout you,” snapped Abbie, unbearably annoyed by her own embarrassment at this extreme gallantry.
“Better close the deal now, Joel; we shall not care about coming again to see you,” advised Win, seeing that Joel needed less than no time for consideration of the offer.
“Well, I might try it, s’long’s you need a man,” Joel said graciously. “I’ll be taken on as a gardener, till you learn me to shofer real good. I’m poor, but I’m straight; I wouldn’t take wages I hadn’t earnt.”