CHAPTER VI

A BLUFF FRIEND


The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of
the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our
hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies. We
were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight
northward.

My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured
tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should
leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the
problem of country living and to preparations for departure. I
obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and
we pored over them every evening. At first they bewildered us with
their long lists of varieties, while the glowing descriptions of new
kinds of vegetables just being introduced awakened in us something
of a gambling spirit.

"How fortunate it is," exclaimed my wife, "that we are going to the
country just as the vegetable marvels were discovered! Why, Robert,
if half of what is said is true, we shall make our fortunes."