[Primrose Bolger]

‘Well, then, come with me,’ smiled Ginger finishing up the last bit of her sticky-bun and swallowing the final gulp of tea. ‘I’ll start you out on flowers that grow along the front verandah of the inn. Mostly they need a little weeding and watering, and of course you’ll want to pinch off the dead blossoms.’ Gwenneth nodded her head in understanding. ‘Now I’ll be working on those climbing roses that grow up the trellises on each end of the verandah,’ Ginger went on.

As Gwenneth finished the last of her little meal, Ginger ran to fetch an apron and a small basket from the kitchen. ‘Here,’ she said, handing the full-length apron to Gwenneth, ‘this will keep some of the dirt off your clothes.’ She placed the basket on the table, waiting for the Elf to finish tying the apron’s strings round her. ‘Let’s go out to the little garden shed in back, by the main garden. We’ll fetch you some gloves and flower snips to use out front. And it might be nice if we made a bouquet for Miz Aman. She’s been awfully busy seeing to things. Do her good to have something pretty to look at and sniff, don’t you think?’

She motioned for Gwenneth to follow her.