But I will never, never start a home with you!

Well, surely one gardener can hardly suffice to poison the air of the
place. If he is a nuisance I shall send him packing.

The man comes from a big estate. If he is content to cultivate my
cabbage patch, it must be because, besides being very ugly, he has some
undiscovered faults. But I really cannot undertake to make minute
inquiries into the psychical qualities of Mr. Under-gardener Jensen.

His photograph was sent by a registry office, among many others. We
examined them, Jeanne, Torp, and myself, with as deep an interest as
though they had been fashion plates from Paris. To my silent amusement,
I watched Torp unconsciously sniffing at each photograph as though she
thought smells could be photographed, too.

Prudence prompted me to select this man; he is too ugly to disturb our
peace of mind. On the other hand, as I had the wisdom not to pull down
the hut in which the former proprietor lived, the two rooms there will
have to do for Mr. Jensen, so that we can keep him at a little distance.

Torp asked if he was to take meals in the kitchen.

Certainly! I have no intention of having him for my opposite neighbour
at table. But, on the whole, he had better have his meals in his hut,
then we shall not be always smelling him.

* * * * *

Perhaps we are really descended from dogs, for the sense of smell can so