But Miss Umpleby--why did she grow roses ?" "Ah, poor thing," said Mrs.Thornbury, "that's a long story.

She had gone through dreadful sorrows.

At one time I think she would have lost her senses if it hadn't been for her garden.

The soil was very much against her--a blessing in disguise; she had to be up at dawn--out in all weathers.

And then there are creatures that eat roses.