"You will be sorely missed here, Miss Percival, sorely missed.
Less said's the sooner mended, but you're a true young lady, greatly to be
deplored."
"Good-bye, Mr. Menzies," she had said, "and thank you a thousand times
for--"
"They are from my own plot of ground," said the grizzled gardener, and
looked away. She had his tulips in her hand, and now buried her face in
them.
"Then I love them all the better," she told him; and put in a word for
Struan. "Be kind to him when you see him again--please do."
Mr. Menzies became far-sighted. He had very blue eyes. "Ahem!" he said, in
his Scotch fashion. "He'll not be here again, I doubt. He'll be away, the
headstrong young man." But he warmed to it. "Ay," he said, "ay, Miss
Percival. For your sake I'll listen to what he has to tell me." She felt
that she must be content with that. Each servant in degree must be dealt
with, and Minnie comforted in her place. She was all for going that night;
but had a mother and four sisters in Doncaster--all at home. Would Miss
Sanchia forgive her, and accept of this Prayer-book? Miss Sanchia would;
kissed her, and did.
In the carriage drive she told Mrs. Benson of her immediate intention.
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