Page:In the Valley (1922).djvu/24

 "We'll just walk along the road for a ways and see what sort of experiences you will attach to your present collection as we go. Even if you don't find what you are looking for, you'll be accomplishing something, anyway."

Marjorie looked down the road which lengthened before them. It was straight and not much traveled, though somewhat dusty; but along its edge there was a strip of short, bright, green grass, and just over the fence were some market gardens, all brilliant with new Spring growth. "Let us go over on the grass," said Marjorie; "it is so soft and cool; and see, there are strawberries there in the garden; and oh, look, there are rows and rows of great purple violets! Aren't they beautiful! And you can smell them clear over here;" and she leaned over the fence, sniffing eagerly.

In a moment a man came quickly down the furrow toward her. His face was rather hard and his shoes were muddy and his hands dark with soil. He approached, looking suspiciously at Marjorie; but she smiled back at him with so much frank unconsciousness and such happiness in the things that she was looking at, that he appeared relieved, and kept on down the furrow without looking back. Marjorie walked on, gazing joyously over the fence, and stopping to admire every especially purple clump; and then suddenly she climbed up on the lowest board, her eyes