There the women talked, whilst Paul went out to survey the land.

He was in the garden smelling the gillivers and looking at the plants, when the girl came out quickly to the heap of coal which stood by the fence.
"I suppose these are cabbage-roses ?" he said to her, pointing to the bushes along the fence.
She looked at him with startled, big brown eyes.
"I suppose they are cabbage-roses when they come out ?" he said.
"I don't know," she faltered.

"They're white with pink middles." "Then they're maiden-blush." Miriam flushed.

She had a beautiful warm colouring.
"I don't know," she said.
"You don't have MUCH in your garden," he said.
"This is our first year here," she answered, in a distant, rather superior way, drawing back and going indoors.

He did not notice, but went his round of exploration.