CHAPTER XXX. TIFF'S GARDEN.

Wouldthelimitsofourstoryadmitofit,weshouldgladlylingermanydaysintheshadyprecinctsofMagnoliaGrove,whereClaytonandNinaremainedsomedayslonger,andwherethehoursflewbyonfloweryfeetbuttheinevitabletimeandtide,whichwaitfornoman,waitnotforthenarrator.Wemustthereforesay,inbrief,thatwhenthevisitwasconcluded,ClaytonaccompaniedNinaoncemoretoCanema,andreturnedtothecircleofhisownduties. Ninareturnedtoherownestate,withviewssomewhatchastenedandmodifiedbyheracquaintancewithAnne.AsClaytonsupposed,theinfluenceofarealnoblepurposeinlifehadprovedofmoreweightthanexhortations,andshebegantofeelwithinherselfpositiveaspirationsforsomemorenobleandworthylifethanshehadheretoforeled.Thatgreat,absorbingfeelingwhichdeterminesthewholedestinyofwoman'sexistence,isinitsownnatureanelevatingandpurifyingone.Itissuchevenwhenplacedonanunworthyobject,andmuchmoresowhentheobjectisaworthyone.Sincethefirstoftheirfriendship,ClaytonhadneverofficiouslysoughttointerferewiththegrowthanddevelopmentofNina'smoralnature.Hehadsufficientsagacitytoperceivethat,unconsciouslytoherself,adeeperpoweroffeeling,andawiderrangeofthought,wasopeningwithinherandheleftthedevelopmentofittothesamequietforceswhichswelltherosebudandguidetheclimbingpathofthevine.Simplyandabsolutelyhelivedhisownlifebeforeher,andlethersaloneandthepowerofhislifethereforebecameabsolute. Afewmorningsafterherreturn,shethoughtthatshewouldgooutandinquireafterthewelfareofouroldfriendTiff.Itwasahazy,warm,brightsummermorning,andallthingslayinthatdreamystillness,thattranceofvoluptuousrest,whichprecedestheapproachofthefiercerheatsoftheday.SinceherabsencetherehadbeenevidentimprovementinTiff'saffairs.Thebaby,ahearty,handsomelittlefellow,bydintofgoodnursing,pork-sucking,andlyingoutdoorsinthetendingofbreezesandzephyrs,hadgrowntobeacreepingcreature,andfollowedTiffaround,inhisgardenministrations,withunintelligiblechatteringsofdelight. AtthemomentwhenNinarodeup,Tiffwasbusywithhismorningworkinthegarden. Hisappearance,itistobeconfessed,wassomewhatpeculiar.Heusuallywore,incomplimenttohisnursingduties,anaproninfrontbut,ashisvariousavocationspressedharduponhistime,andashisownpersonaloutfitwaseverthelasttobeattendedto,Tiff'snethergarmentshadshowntracesofthatfrailtywhichisincidenttoallhumanthings. "Bressme,"hesaidtohimself,thatmorning,ashewithdifficultyengineeredhiswayintothem,"holeshere,andholesdar!Don'twantbuttwoholesinmybreeches,andI'sgottwodozen!Gotmyfootthroughdewrongplace!PoroldTiff!Lawsamassy!wishIcouldgetholdofsomeofdemdarclothesdeyweretelling'boutatdecamp-meeting,deyworefortyyearsindewilderness!'Mazinghandydemartimeswas!Well,anyhow,I'lltieanapronbehind,andanoderinfront.BressdeLord,I'sgotaprons,anyhow!Imustmakeupaparofbreeches,someofdeseyerdays,whendebaby'steethisallthrough,andTeddy'sclothesdon'twantnomending,anddewashingisdone,anddeseyerweedsstopsagrowingindegarden.BressifIknowwhatdeLordwantofsomanyweeds.'Pearslikedeycomesjusttoplagueusbut,den,wedoesn'tknow.Maybedere'ssomegoodin'em.Wedoesn'tknowbutaleetle,noway." Tiffwassittingonthegroundweedingoneofhisgarden-beds,whenhewassurprisedbytheapparitionofNinaonhorse-backcominguptothegate.Herewasadilemma,tobesure!Nocavalierhadamoreabsoluteconceptionofthenatureofpoliteness,andtheclaimsofbeauty,rank,andfashion,thanTiff.Then,tobecaughtsittingontheground,withablueaprononinfront,andaredoneonbehind,wasanappallingdilemma!However,asourreadersmayhavediscovered,Tiffhadthatessentialrequisiteofgoodbreeding,themoralcouragetofaceanexigencyand,wiselyconsideringthatawantofcordialityisagreaterdeficiencythanthewantofcostume,heroseup,withoutdelay,andhastenedtothegatetoacknowledgethehonor. "Lordbressyersweetface,MissNina!"hesaid,whilethebreezesflappedandflutteredhisredandbluesails,"OldTiff's'mazin'happytoseeyou.MissFanny'swell,thankyeandMas'rTeddyandthebabyalldoingnicely.BressdeLord,MissNina,besogoodastogetdownandcomein.I'sgotsomeniceberriesdatIpickedindeswamp,andMissFanny'llbeproudtohaveyoutakesome.Yousee,"hesaid,laughingheartily,andregardinghispeculiarcostume,"Iwasn'tlookingforanyqualitylongdisyertimeo'day,soIjustgotonmyoldclothes." "Why,UncleTiff,Ithinktheybecomeyouimmensely!"saidNina."Youroutfitisreallyoriginalandpicturesque.You'renotoneofthepeoplethatareashamedoftheirwork,areyou,UncleTiff?So,ifyoujustleadmyhorsetothatstump,I'llgetdown." "Laws,no,MissNina!"saidTiff,aswithalacrityheobeyedherorders."Spects,ifOldTiffwas'shamedofwork,he'dhaveaheaptobe'shamedof'causeit'sprettymuchallworkwithhim.'Tisso!" "Tom