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“Jael!” I said, “Mamma was right about the smells in the back yard. Margery and I hold our noses”–“you’d a deal better hold your tongues,” interrupted Jael.

“We do, Jael, we do, because I don’t like mustard plasters on my throat, and when the back yard smells a good deal, my throat is always sore. But oh, Jael! If Sunflowers are good for smells, don’t you think we might tell Grandmamma, and she would let us have them for that?”

“She’ll not, Miss Grace,” said Jael, “so don’t worry on. They’re ragged things at the best, and all they’re good for is to fatten fowls; and I shall tell Gardener he may cut their heads off and throw ’em to the poultry, before he roots up the rest.”

I could not bear to hear her, so I went out to bid the Sunflowers good bye.

I held their dear rough stems, rough with nice little white hairs, and I knew how easily their poor heads would cut off, there is so much pith inside the stems.

I kissed all their dear faces one after another. They are very nice to kiss, especially in the sun, for then they smell honey-sweet, like blue Scabious, and lots of flowers that have not much scent, but only smell as if bees would like them. I kissed them once round for myself, and then once for Margery, for I knew how sorry she would be.

And it was whilst I was holding S. George of England’s face in my two hands, kissing him for Margery, that I saw the Dignotion on my middle finger nail.

A Gift, a Beau, A Friend!—

And then it flashed into my mind, all in a moment–“There can be no friend to me and the Sunflowers, except Dr. Brown, for Jael says he is the only person who ever changes Grandmamma’s mind.”

I dawdled that night when I could not make up my mind about going out with the Rushlight, but I did not wait one minute now. I climbed over the garden wall into the road, and ran as hard as I could run up to the top of the hill, where lived a man–I mean where Dr. Brown lived.

Now, I know that he is the kindest person that ever could be. I told him everything, and he asked particularly about my throat and the smells. Then he looked graver than I ever saw him, and said, “Listen, little woman; you must look out for spots on your little finger-nails. You’re going away for a bit, till I’ve doctored these smells. Don’t turn your eyes into saucers. Margery shall go with you; I wish I could turn ye both into flowers and plant ye out in a field for three months! but you are not to give me any trouble by turning home-sick, do you hear? I shall have trouble enough with Grandmamma, though I am joint guardian with her (your dear mother’s doing, that!), and have some voice in the disposal of your fates. Now, if I save the Sunflowers, will you promise me not to cry to come home again till I send for you?”

“Shall you be able to change her mind, to let us have Sunflowers sown for next year, too?

“Yes!”

“Then I promise.”

I could have danced for joy. The only thing that made me feel uncomfortable was having to tell Dr. Brown about the spot on my middle finger-nail. He would ask all about it, and so I let out about Johnson’s Dictionary and the Dignotions, and Brown’s Vulgar Errors, and I was afraid Margery would say I had been very silly, and let a cat out of a bag.

I hope he was not vexed about his vulgar errors. He only laughed till he nearly tumbled off his chair.

I never did have a spot on my journey-to-go nail, but we went away all the same; so I suppose Dignotions do not always tell true.

When Grandmamma forgave me, and told me she would spare the Sunflowers this time, as Dr. Brown had begged them off, she said–“And Dr. Brown assures me, Grace, that when you are stronger you will have more sense. I am sure I hope he is right.”

I hope so, too!