But who's Mrs. Polly going to be?" said Mrs. Larkins.

Figment of the imagination, ma'am," said Mr. Polly. "Put in to fill

up picture. No face to figure as yet. Still, that's how it will be, I

can assure you. I think I must have a bit of garden. Johnson's the man

for a garden of course," he said, going off at a tangent, "but I don't

mean a fierce sort of garden. Earnest industry. Anxious moments.

Fervous digging. Shan't go in for that sort of garden, ma'am. No! Too

much backache for me. My garden will be just a patch of 'sturtiums and

sweet pea. Red brick yard, clothes' line. Trellis put up in odd time.

Humorous wind vane. Creeper up the back of the house."

Virginia creeper?" asked Miriam.

Canary creeper," said Mr. Polly.

You will 'ave it nice," said Miriam, desirously.

Rather," said Mr. Polly. "Ting-a-ling-a-ling. Shop!"

He straightened himself up and then they all laughed.

"Smart little shop," he said. "Counter. Desk. All complete. Umbrella

stand. Carpet on the floor. Cat asleep on the counter. Ties and hose

on a rail over the counter. All right."

136

The History of Mr Polly