"I thought what lots of flowers the travellers had already, without Mary planting any more; and I thought not one traveller in a dozen paid much attention to them--begging John Parkinson's pardon--and how much more in want of flowers people 'that have no garden' are; and then I thought of that poor girl in those bare barracks, whose old home was one of the prettiest places, with the loveliest garden, in all Berkshire." "Was it an Earthly Paradise ?" asked Chris.
"It was, indeed.

Well, when I thought of her inside those brick walls, looking out on one of those yards they march about in, now they've cut down all the trees, and planted sentry-boxes, I put my best bonnet out of the window, which always spoils the feather, and told Harness to turn his horses' heads, and drive home again." "What for ?" said Chris, as brusquely as Lady Catherine.
"I sent for Hobbs." "Hobbs the Gardener ?" said Chris.
"Hobbs the Gardener; and I told Chambers to give him the basket from the second peg, and then I sent him into the conservatory to fill it.
Mary, my dear, I am very particular about my baskets.

If ever I lend you my diamonds, and you lose them, I may forgive you--I shall know _that_ was an accident; but if I lend you a basket, and you don't return it, don't look me in the face again.

I always write my name on them, so there's no excuse.

And I don't know a greater piece of impudence--and people are wonderfully impudent now-a-days--than to think that because a thing only cost fourpence, you need not be at the trouble of keeping it clean and dry, and of sending it back." "Some more toast and water, please," said Chris.
Aunt Catherine helped him, and continued--"Hobbs is a careful man--he has been with me ten years--he doesn't cut flowers recklessly as a rule, but when I saw that basket I said, 'Hobbs, you've been very extravagant.' He looked ashamed of himself, but he said, 'I understood they was for Miss Kitty, m'm.