There was some work to be done in regard to a flower pit, in which some of her choicest plants were to be domiciled during the winter, and this she wished personally to oversee.
Although the autumn was well advanced, the day was somewhat warm; and as the pair, whom Mr Croft had seen on the porch, had been glad to shelter themselves in the shade of the honeysuckle vines, so Mrs Keswick seated herself on a little bench behind a large arbor, still covered by heavy vines, which stood on the boundary line between the garden and the front yard, and opened on the latter.

This bench, which was always shady in the morning, she had had placed there that she might comfortably direct the labors of old Isham, the boy Plez, or whoever, for the time being, happened to be her gardener.
Mr Croft did not immediately begin the statement of the business which had brought him to see Junius Keswick.

Several windows of the house opened on the porch, and he did not wish what he had to say to be heard by any one except the person he was addressing.

"I desire to talk to you on some private matters," he said.

"Could we not walk a little away from the house ?" "Certainly," said Junius, rising.