The next day Elizabeth came out with the gardener, and they began their day's work together. They seemed to be in the best spirits. The smell of the fresh-turned earth, the sight of the fresh shoots of tender green springing from bulb and root and branch, acted upon them like an inspiration. The warm sun also held them to their task. Sandy was generous in bestowing aid and counsel,--and also in the matter of his land,--trenching farther on the ground allotted to the vegetables than he had ever done before.
"The land must pay for it," said he. "We'll make a foot give us a yard's worth. Cram a bushel into a peck, though 'The Doctor' said you never could do that! I know how to coax."
"Yes, and you know how to order, if you have not forgotten, Sandy. You frightened me once for taking an inch over my share."
"That was a long while back," answered honest Sandy,--"before I knew what the little girl could do. I've seen young folk work at gardening afore, but you do beat 'em all. How could I tell you would, though? You don't look it. Yes,--may-be you do, though. But you've changed since _I_ first knew you."
"Why, I was nothing but a baby then, Sandy."
"Yes, yes,--I know; but you're changed since then!"
So they all spoke to Elizabeth, praising her, confiding in her with loving willingness,--the Daughter of the Regiment.
The gardener was proud of his assistant, and seemed to enjoy the part she took in his labor. They worked till noon, Elizabeth stopping hardly a moment to rest. All this while the prisoner stood watching by his window, and the gardener saw him. The sight occasioned him a new perplexity, and he gravely considered the subject. It was a good while before he said to Elizabeth, speaking on conviction, in his usual low and rather mysterious tone,--
"There's some one will enjoy it when all's done."
"Who is that?" asked she, thinking he meant herself, perhaps.
But though Sandy spoke thus plainly, he did not look toward the prison,--and the prison was the last place of which Elizabeth was thinking. It was so long a time since the cell with the window had an occupant, that she was almost unconscious of that gloomy neighborhood. So, when the gardener explained that it was one up above who would enjoy her work, her eyes instantly sought the celestial heights. She was thinking of sun, or star, or angel, may-be, and smiling at Sandy's speech, for sympathy.