Linda studied the canyon with intent eyes, but bruised flesh pleaded, so reluctantly she arose, shouldered her belongings, and slowly followed the road out to the car line that passed through Lilac Valley, still carefully bearing in triumph the precious Cotyledon.

An hour later she entered the driveway of her home.

She stopped to set her plant carefully in the wild garden she and her father had worked all her life at collecting, then followed the back porch and kitchen route.
"Whatever have ye been doing to yourself, honey ?" cried Katy.
"I came a cropper down Multiflores Canyon where it is so steep that it leans the other way.

I pretty well pulverized myself for a pulverulent, Katy, which is a poor joke." "Now ain't that just my luck!" wailed Katy, snatching a cake cutter and beginning hurriedly to stamp out little cakes from the dough before her.
"Well, I don't understand in exactly what way," said Linda, absently rubbing her elbows and her knees.

"Seems to me it's my promontories that have been knocked off, not yours, Katy." "Yes, and ain't it just like ye," said Katy, "to be coming in late, and all banged up when Miss Eileen has got sudden notice that there is going to be company again and I have an especial dinner to serve, and never in the world can I manage if ye don't help me!" "Why, who is coming now ?" asked Linda, seating herself on the nearest chair and beginning to unfasten her boots slowly.
"Well, first of all, there is Mr.Gilman, of course." "'Of course,'" conceded Linda.