But he forgot all his worries as he scampered through the Garden of Spices to the beech tree . And there Jims stopped as if he had been shot . Prone on the grass under the beech tree , white and cold and still , lay his Miss Avery -- dead , stone dead ! At least Jims drought she was dead . He flew into the house like a mad thing , shrieking for Martha . Nobody answered . Jims recollected , with a rush of sickening dread , that Miss Avery had told him Martha and Edward were going away that day to visit a sister . He rushed blindly across the lawn again , through the little side gate he had never passed before and down the street home . Uncle Walter was just opening the door of his car . `` Uncle Walter -- come -- come , '' sobbed Jims , clutching frantically at his hand . `` Miss Avery 's dead -- dead -- oh , come quick . '' '' Who is dead ? '' `` Miss Avery -- Miss Avery Garland . She 's lying on the grass over there in her garden . And I love her so -- and I 'll die , too -- oh , Uncle Walter , come . '' Uncle Walter looked as if he wanted to ask some questions , but he said nothing . With a strange face he hurried after Jims . Miss Avery was still lying there . As Uncle Walter bent over her he saw the broad red scar and started back with an exclamation . `` She is dead ? ''
gasped XXXXX .
Avery Edward Garland Jims Martha Prone Walter day house scar