w to his study to sign some papers, and
transact some business, which he had allowed to run into arrear. When he
had been there better than an hour, he rang the bell, and desired that
Malcomson, the gardener, should be sent to him, and that self-sufficient
and pedantic person made his appearance accordingly.

"Well, Malcomson," said he, "how do you like the bearded fellow in the
garden?"

"Ou, yer honor, weel eneugh; he does ken something o' the sceence o'
buttany, an' 'am thinkin' he must hae been a gude spell in Scotland, for
I canna guess whare else he could hae become acquent wi' it."

"I see Malcomson, you'll still persist in your confounded pedantry
about your science. Now, what the devil has science to do with botany or
gardening?"

"Weel, your honor, it wadna just become me to dispute wi' ye upon that
or any ither subjeck; but for a' that, it required profoond sceence,
and vera extensive learnin' to classify an' arrange a' the plants o' the
yearth, an' to gie them names, by whilk they dan be known throughout a'
the nations o' the warld."

"Well, well--I suppose I must let you have your way."

"Why, your honor," replied Malcomson, "'am sure it mair becomes me to
let you hae yours; but regerding this ould carl, I winna say, but he has
been weel indoctrinated in the sceence."

"Ahem! well, well, go on."

"An' it's no easy to guess whare he could hae gotten it. Indeed, 'am
of opinion that he's no without a hantle o' book lair; for, to do him
justice, de'il a question I spier at him, anent the learned names o' the
rare plants, that he hasna at his finger ends, and gies to me off-hand.
Naebody but a man that has gotten book lair could do yon."

"Book lair, what is that?"

"Ou, just a correck knowledge o' the learned names of the plants. I
dinna say, and I winna say, but he's a velliable assistant to me, an'
I shouldna wish to pairt wi' him. If he'd only shave off yon beard, an'
let himsel' be decently happed in good claiths, why he might pass in ony
gentleman's gerden for a skeelful buttanist."

"Is he as good a kitchen gardener as he is in the green-house, and among
the flowers?"

"Weel, your honor, guid troth, 'am sairly puzzled there; hoot, no, sir;
de'il a thing almost he kens about the kitchen gerden--a' his strength
lies among the flowers and in the green-house."

"Well, well, that's where we principally want him. I sent for you,
Malcomson, to desire you'd raise his wages--the laborer is worthy o