`` No , I 'm not a brick at all , Miss Taylor , '' I confessed frankly . `` I 've been an arrant coward and a doubting Thomas and a wet blanket all through the expedition . But Kate is a brick and a genius and an all-round , jolly good fellow . '' `` Mary , '' said Kate in a tragic whisper , `` have -- you -- any -- ham -- in -- the -- house ? '' Jessamine When the vegetable-man knocked , Jessamine went to the door wearily . She felt quite well acquainted with him . He had been coming all the spring , and his cheery greeting always left a pleasant afterglow behind him . But it was not the vegetable-man after all -- at least , not the right one . This one was considerably younger . He was tall and sunburned , with a ruddy , smiling face , and keen , pleasant blue eyes ; and he had a spray of honeysuckle pinned on his coat . `` Want any garden stuff this morning ? '' Jessamine shook her head . `` We always get ours from Mr. Bell . This is his day to come . '' `` Well , I guess you wo n't see Mr. Bell for a spell . He fell off a loft out at his place yesterday and broke his leg . I 'm his nephew , and I 'm going to fill his place till he gets ` round again . '' `` Oh , I 'm so sorry -- for Mr. Bell , I mean . Have you any green peas ? '' `` Yes , heaps of them .
I 'll bring them XXXXX .
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