As for the garden, originally but a small one, it had now been reduced to a kind of gravelled yard by the erection of the large workshop at one end of it.

Of the former greenery, however, there still remained two huge plum-trees with old knotted trunks, as well as a big clump of lilac-bushes, which every spring were covered with bloom.

And in front of the latter Marie had arranged a broad flower-bed, in which she amused herself with growing a few roses, some wallflowers and some mignonette.
With a wave of her hand as she went past, she called Pierre's attention to the black plum-trees and the lilacs and roses, which showed but a few greenish spots, for winter still held the little nook in sleep.

"Tell Guillaume," she said, "that he must make haste to get well and be back for the first shoots." Then, as Pierre glanced at her, she all at once flushed purple.

Much to her distress, sudden and involuntary blushes would in this wise occasionally come upon her, even at the most innocent remarks.