t. "Get out, Dick,
or I'll tread on you!" this to one of the cats, who seemed to think
because he was black and covered with black fur that he was a
blacking-brush, and he was using himself accordingly all over his
master's boots.

"If you please, I want to go now," I said hurriedly.

"To be sure you do," he said, still holding on to the end of my tie--"to
be sure you do. Hah! that's got him at last."

I stared in return, for there had been a great deal of screwing about
going on in that pocket, as if he could not get out his big fist, but it
came out at last with a snatch.

"Here, where are you?" he said. "Weskit? why, what a bit of a slit it
is to call a pocket. Hold the sixpence though, won't it?"

"If you please I'd rather pay for the flowers," I cried, flushing as he
held on by the tie with one hand, and thrust the sixpence back in my
pocket with the other.

"Dessay you would," he replied; "but I told you before I'm market grower
and dursen't take small sums. Not according to Cocker. Didn't know
Cocker, I suppose, did you?"

"No, sir."

"Taught 'rithmetic. Didn't learn his 'rithmetic then?"

"No, sir," I replied, "Walkinghame's."

"Did you though? There, now, you play a walking game, and get home and
count your strawberries."

"Yes, sir, but--"

"I say, what a fellow you are to but! Why, you're like Teddy, my goat,
I once had. No, no! No money. Welcome to the fruit, ditto flowers,
boy. This way."

He was leading me towards the gate now like a dog by a string, and it
annoyed me that he would hold me by the end of my tie, the more so that
I could see Shock with a basket turned over his head watching me from
down amongst the trees.

"Come on again, my lad, often as you like. Lots growing--lots spoils."

"Thank you, sir," I said diffidently, "but--"

"Woa, Teddy," he cried, laughing. "There; that'll do. Look here, why
don't you bring her for a walk round the garden--do her good? Glad to
see her any time. Here, what a fellow you are, dropping your
strawberries. Let it alone, Dick. Do for Shock."

I had let a great double strawberry roll off the top of my heap, and a
cat darted at it to give it a sniff; but old Brownsmith picked it up and
laid it on the top of a post formed of a cut-down tree.

"Now, then, let's get a basket. Look better for an invalid. One
minute: some leaves."

He stooped and picked some strawberry leaves, and one or two very large
ripe berries, which he