After tea he busied himself in the garden among the flowers which were still remaining.

I lingered in the parlor or walked the piazza with an undefined desire of speaking to him before I should go to my room.

After he had finished his garden work he went to the stable; I heard the horses stepping about the floor as they were taken out for his inspection.

The lamps were lighted before he came in again; Alice was upstairs as usual.

When I heard him coming, I opened my book, and seated myself in a corner of a sofa; he walked to the window without noticing me, and drummed on the piano.
"Does your wrist pain you, Charles ?" still reading.
"A trifle," adjusting his wristband.
"Do you often knock men down in your employ ?" "When they deserve it." "It is a generous and manly sort of pastime." "I am a generous man and very strong; do you know that, you little fool?
Here, will you take this flower?
There will be no more this year." I took it from his hand; it was a pink, faintly odorous blossom.
"I love these fragile flowers best," he continued--"where I have to protect them from my own touch, even." He relapsed into forgetfulness for a moment, and then began to study his memorandum book.
"A note from the mills, sir," said Jesse, "by one of the hands." "Tell him to wait." He read it, and threw it over to me.