Ther ain't no credit in gettin' well. Ther'
wur no sich a caddle about sick folk when I wur a bwoy."

Simon had never been known to make such a long speech before, and
Tom argued well for his negotiation.

"Well, Simon," he said, "I've been talking to my cousin, and I
think she will do what you want now. The dispensary is set up,
and the people are very healthy. How much glass should you want,
now, along that wall?"

"A matter o' twenty fit or so," said Simon.

"I think that can be managed," said Tom; "I'll speak to my cousin
about it; and then you would have plenty to do in the houses, and
you'd want a regular man under you."

"Ees; 'twould take two on us reg'lar to kep things as they should
be."

"And you ought to have somebody who knows what he is about. Can
you think of anyone who would do, Simon?"

"Ther's a young chap as works for Squire Wurley. I've heard as he
wants to better hisself."

"But he isn't an Englebourn man. Isn't there anyone in the
parish?"

"Ne'er a one as I knows on."

"What do you think of Harry Winburn--he seems a good hand with
flowers?" The words had scarcely passed his lips when Tom saw
that he had made a mistake. Old Simon retired into himself at
once, and a cunning, distrustful look came over his face. There
was no doing anything with him. Even the new forcing house had
lost its attractions for him, and Tom, after some further
ineffectual attempts to bring him round, returned to the house
somewhat crestfallen.

"Well, how have you succeeded?" said Katie, looking up from her
work, as he came in and sat down near her table. Tom shook his
head.

"I'm afraid I've made a regular hash of it," he said. "I thought
at first I had quite come round the old savage by praising the
garden, and promising that you would let him have a new house."

"You don't mean to say you did that?" said Katie, stopping her
work.

"Indeed, but I did, though. I was drawn on, you know. I saw it
was the right card to play; so I couldn't help it."

"Oh, Tom! how could you do so? We don't want another house the
least in the world; it is only Simon's vanity. He wants to beat
the gardener at the grange at the flower shows. Every penny will
have to come out of what papa allows me for the parish."

"Don't be afraid, Katie; you won't have to spend a penny. Of
course I reserved a condition. The new house was to be put up if
he would take Harry as an under-gardener.

"What did he say to that?"

"Well, he