"Yes, Grandma, truly I will," said Marjorie, with such a seraphic
smile that her grandmother kissed her at once.

"Then run along and have a good time; and don't jump off the dock
or anything foolish."

"I won't," cried Marjorie, gayly; and then she went dancing down
the path to the garden. Carter was in the greenhouse potting some
plants.

"Carter," said Marjorie, putting her head in at the door, "are you
very busy?"

"Busy, indeed! I have enough work here with these pesky plants to
keep me steady at it till summer after next. Busy, is it? I'm so
busy that the bees and the ants is idle beside me. Busy? Well, I
AM busy!"

But as the good-natured old man watched Marjorie's face, and saw
the look of disappointment settling upon it, he said: "But what
matters that? If so be, Miss Midget, I can do anything for you,
you've only to command."

"Well, Carter, I thought this morning I'd like to go down to see
the boathouse; and I thought, perhaps,--maybe, if you weren't
busy, you might take me for a little row in the boat. Just a
little row, you know--not very far."

It would have taken a harder heart than Carter's to withstand the
pleading tones and the expectant little face; and the gardener set