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           InthemonthofherstayatHimmelhochshehadn’tfeltreallywellforonesingleday;shedidn’twanttoeat,shesufferedboutsofpainfuldiarrhea,sheseemeddoggedbylethargyandcouldn’tshakeitoff.Notusedtofeelinganythingbuttiptopwell,thevaguemalaisefrightenedher.

           AfterbreakfastLukehelpedherwashthedishes,thentookherforawalkdowntothenearestcanefield,talkingallthetimeaboutthesugarandwhatitwasliketocutit,whatabeautlifeitwasoutintheopenair,whatabeautlotofblokestheywereinArne’sgang,howdifferentitwasfromshearing,andhowmuchbetter.

           Theyturnedandwalkedupthehillagain;Lukeledherintotheexquisitelycoolcavernunderthehouse,betweenthepiles.Annehadmadeaconservatoryoutofit,stoodpiecesofterracottapipeofdifferinglengthsandgirthsupright,thenfilledthemwithsoilandplantedtrailing,danglingthingsinthem;orchidsofeverykindandcolor,ferns,exoticcreepersandbushes.Thegroundwassoftandredolentofwoodchips;greatwirebasketshungfromthejoistsoverhead,fulloffernsororchidsortuberoses;staghornsinbarknestsgrewonthepiles;magnificentbegoniasindozensofbrilliantcolorshadbeenplantedaroundthebasesofthepipes.ItwasMeggie’sfavoriteretreat,theonethingofHimmelhoch’sshepreferredtoanythingofDrogheda’s.ForDroghedacouldneverhopetogrowsomuchononesmallspot;therejustwasn’tenoughmoistureintheair.