"Why, because the old man didn't leave it to me," said the Junior Partner.
"And a good job for you, too, you great goose," cried Celie, daringly, "for if he had I should certainly have made love to Cleg, and we would have set up a market garden together. I am sure I should have liked that very much."
And at that time Vara was telling Cleg in the tower that his treasure had come to him at last.
And Cleg was sure of it.
LETTER INCLOSED.
(Being a fragment from the postscript of a note, dated some years later, from Mrs. Donald Iverach to the Girl over the Wall—who has been her dearest friend ever since her engagement was announced.)
"And the funny thing is that, after all, they have a market garden! I've just been to see them, and they live in the loveliest little house down near the sea. And Cleg says he is going to make their little Donald (called after my Incumbrance, the old Dear) a market gardener—'Fruits in their Seasons,' and that kind of thing, you know. And I think it's so sensible of them. For, of course, they could never have gone into society, though she is certainly most charmingly behaved. But Cleg likes to go barefoot about the garden still, and you know that is not quite usual. Gavin is at the Academy, and is dux of his class. He is what is called a 'gyte,' which is a title of honour there.
"And what do you think? Cleaver's boy is married, and they have got a baby also—not so lovely as its father was, but the sweetest thing! He is foreman now, and Janet never thinks of telling a fib, even to afternoon callers. Don't you think that's rather much? Oh, I forgot! Her uncle came in while I was there, and said to Mirren Douglas—that's the little widow, you know, who lives with Cleg and Vara—'I saw Hugh Kavannah walking to-day on Princes Street with little Miss Briggs!' But I don't think there can be anything in it—do you? For, after all, she's a lady, and he is only a student. Of course, when we were girls—but then this is so different.
"Kit Kennedy has just been matriculated or rusticated or something. Everybody is very pleased. He is going in for agriculture, and tells Cleg when to sow his strawberry seed.