Then Miss Vanderpoel made—­and she made it in the simplest matter-of-fact manner, too—­the startling remark which, three hours later, all Stornham village had heard of.  The most astounding part of the remark was that it was uttered as if there was nothing in it which was not the absolutely natural outcome of the circumstances of the case.

“Expense which is proper and necessary need not be considered,” she said.  “Regular accounts will be kept and supervised, but you can have all that is required.”

Then it appeared that Kedgers almost became pale.  Being a foreigner, perhaps she did not know how much she was implying when she said such a thing to a man who had never held a place like Timson’s.

“Miss,” he hesitated, even shamefacedly, because to suggest to such a fine-mannered, calm young lady that she might be ignorant, seemed perilously near impertinence.  “Miss, did you mean you wanted only the Lilium Giganteum, or—­or other things, as well.”

“I should like to see,” she answered him, “all that you see.  I should like to hear more of it all, when we have time to talk it over.  I understand we should need time to discuss plans.”

The quiet way she went on!  Seeming to believe in him, almost as if he was Mr. Timson.  The old feeling, born and fostered by the great head gardener’s rule, reasserted itself.

“It means more to work—­and someone over them, miss,” he said.  “If—­if you had a man like Mr. Timson——­”

“You have not forgotten what you learned.  With men enough under you it can be put into practice.”

“You mean you’d trust me, miss—­same as if I was Mr. Timson?”

“Yes.  If you ever feel the need of a man like Timson, no doubt we can find one.  But you will not.  You love the work too much.”

Then still standing in the sunshine, on the weed-grown path, she continued to talk to him.  It revealed itself that she understood a good deal.  As he was to assume heavier responsibilities, he was to receive higher wages.  It was his experience which was to be considered, not his years.  This was a new point of view.  The mere propeller of wheel-barrows and digger of the soil—­particularly after having been attacked by rheumatism—­depreciates in value after youth is past.  Kedgers knew that a Mr. Timson, with a regiment of under gardeners, and daily increasing knowledge of his profession, could continue to direct, though years rolled by.  But to such fortune he had not dared to aspire.

One of the lodges might be put in order for him to live in.  He might have the hothouses to put in order, too; he might have implements, plants, shrubs, even some of the newer books to consult.  Kedgers’ brain reeled.