But this bit of garden adjoining her own rooms was her especial pride, and contained the choicest plants she had been able to secure.

So, since she had been confined to her chair, the place had almost attained to the dignity of a private drawing-room, and on bright days she spent many hours here, delighting to feast her eyes with the rich coloring of the flowers and to inhale their fragrance.

For however gruff Jane Merrick might be to the people with whom she came in contact, she was always tender to her beloved flowers, and her nature invariably softened when in their presence.
By and by Oscar, the groom, stepped through an opening in the hedge and touched his hat.
"Has my niece arrived ?" asked his mistress, sharply.
"She's on the way, mum," the man answered, grinning.

"She stopped outside the grounds to pick wild flowers, an' said I was to tell you she'd walk the rest o' the way." "To pick wild flowers ?" "That's what she said, mum.

She's that fond of 'em she couldn't resist it.