‘He had the misfortune to offend some people who did not understand him, but I hope you are not one of them: I am sure you will not be when you know him. It is Caleb Kersey.’
Sam looked stolidly at the ground; no surprise, pleasure, or displeasure expressed on his features. Madge observing him closely, was busy collecting her arguments in favour of Caleb.
‘Now, that’s very queer,’ he began slowly. ‘When he was coming about the house at first, I suspected that he was hankering after my lassie, and I’m obliged to own that it wasna exactly the kind o’ match that I would have liked her to make; but when she was spoken to, she just said nothing. Syne, thinking that there was nae harm in his coming, and seeing what fine work he was making of the harvest, I took a notion o’ the lad because he was fond o’ flowers— especially geraaniums. Do ye know, daft-like as it was, I thought it was the geraaniums he had a fancy for.’
There was a comic pathos in the air of dejection and disappointment with which he made this confession, whilst he rubbed his soft cap slowly over his head, as if he would rub out the stupidity which had caused him to make such a mistake.
‘I have no doubt that the geraniums had something to do with bringing him here,’ was the consolatory comment of Madge. ‘You may be certain that Caleb would never say he liked anything if he did not. His outspoken ways are the causes of the ill-favour he has fallen into amongst the farmers. You know as well as I do that he is a good worker; he is steady; and Philip bids me assure you that he is now in a position which he is exactly fitted for, and he will be able to earn a good wage. I believe that Pansy likes him, and that they are both held back from speaking because they are afraid of you.’
‘Feared for me! How can that be? I never did anything to scare them; and I’m sure I have ta’en mair pains in letting him into a’ the secrets of the culture of geraaniums than I ever did wi’ onybody afore. Maybe I should have tried him wi’ the pansies.’
‘He has found out that secret for himself,’ said Madge merrily as Sam chuckled at his own little joke. ‘Then I may tell them that you will not be cruel—that you will not interfere with them?’
‘Oh, if the young folk have settled the matter for themsel’s, there would be no use of me interfering; and if they ha’ena, there’ll be no need.’
‘I cannot tell you how much pleasure you have given me, Mr Culver; and Philip will be delighted, for he began to think that poor Caleb was going to be ruined by his anxiety about this matter. I must go and find Pansy now.’
‘But there is no need to be in haste about it,’ said the gardener, and there was evidently some anxiety underneath his dry manner: ‘she is a young thing yet, and I’m no sure that I could get on without her.’