ng, however, he found
it was still stiff and sore; but he thought he had better go and
try to work for a bit.

"I am glad you are back again," the gardener said, when he saw him,
"for there's a lot of work on hand; but I see you are still lame.
The coachman tells me it were a nasty bite."

"It's pretty sore still," Reuben replied, "and I don't think I can
walk about much; but I thought I might help in some other way."

"Very well," the gardener said. "There are a lot of plants which
want shifting into larger pots. You do them, and I will take up the
fork and dig up that piece of ground I want to put the young
lettuces into."

Reuben worked hard till half-past eight, and then went off to his
breakfast. On his return, he was told the squire wished to speak to
him.

"It's about that dog, I expect," the gardener remarked. "I suppose
you know he were poisoned last night."

"No, I didn't know," Reuben replied; "but it's a precious good job.
I wish he had been poisoned before he got his teeth into me."

Reuben, on going round to the back door, was shown into the
library, where the squire was sitting. The coachman was with him.

"Now then, Reuben," the squire said, "I want you to tell me the
truth about this matter. The coachman told me, three days ago, that
you had been bitten by the yard dog, and I made up my mind to get
rid of him, on the first opportunity; but I find he was poisoned,
yesterday evening."

He stopped as if expecting Reuben to say something; but the boy,
having nothing to say, merely replied:

"Yes, sir, so the gardener has told me."

"What do you know about it, Reuben?"

"I don't know anything about it, sir," Reuben replied, opening his
eyes.

"Now, look here, lad," the squire said gravely, "I am disposed to
think well of you; and although I consider it a serious offence
your poisoning the dog, I shall consider it very much worse if you
deny it."

"But I didn't poison it, sir," Reuben affirmed. "I never dreamt of
such a thing."

The squire set his lips hard together.

"Just tell me your story over again," he said to the coachman.

"Well, yesterday evening, squire, I went down into the village to
buy some 'bacca. Just as I got back to the gate, out runs a boy. It
was too dark for me to see his face, but I naturally supposed it
were Reuben, so I said, 'Hello, Reuben, how's the leg?' But the
moment I spoke, he turned off from the path and ran away.

"Well, I thought it was queer, but I