om Hampton, Grant--from Sir Francis Linton's.
He's going to take you back."

"Take me back, sir!" I said wonderingly. "Have--have I done anything
you don't like?"

"No, my lad, no--only I've taught you all I can; and now you will go
with him and learn gardening under glass--to grow peaches, and grapes,
and mushrooms, and all kinds of choice flowers."

I looked at him in a troubled way, and he hastened to add:

"A fine opportunity for you, my boy. Brother Solomon is a very famous
gardener and takes prizes at the shows."

"Oh! as to that," said Brother Solomon, "we're not much. We do the best
we can."

"Horticultural medals, gold and bronze," said Old Brownsmith, smiling.
"There!--you'll have to do so as well, Grant, my lad--you will have to
do me credit."

I crept close to him and half-whispered:

"But must I go, sir?"

"Yes, my lad, it is for your benefit," he said rather sternly; and I
suppose I gave him such a piteous look that his face softened a little
and he patted my shoulder. "Come," he said, "you must be a man!"

I seemed to have something in my throat which I was obliged to swallow;
but I made an effort, and after a trial or two found that I could speak
more clearly.

"Shall I have to go soon, sir?"

"Yes: now," said Old Brownsmith.

"Not till I've had a look round," said Brother Solomon in a slow
meditative way, as he took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands,
staring about him at the trees and bushes, and then, as a cat gave a
friendly rub against his leg, he stooped down after the fashion of his
brother, picked it up, and held it on his arm, stroking it all the time.

I had not liked the look of Brother Solomon, for he seemed cold, and
quiet, and hard. His face looked stiff, as if he never by any chance
smiled; and it appeared to me as if I were going from where I had been
treated like a son to a home where I should be a stranger.

"Yes," he said after looking about him, as if he were going to find
fault, "I sha'n't go back just yet awhile."

"Oh no! you'll have a snap of something first, and Grant here will want
a bit of time to pack up his things."

Old Brownsmith seemed to be speaking more kindly to me now, and this
made me all the more miserable, for I had felt quite at home; and though
Shock and I were bad friends, and Ike was not much of a companion, I did
not want to leave them.

Old Brownsmith saw my looks, and he said:

"You will run over now and then to see me and t