rden after her father.

She overtook him as he was standing by a handsome espalier, dotted with
the tawny red-streaked Ribstons, while Dan'l was pointing to a couple of
newly-made footmarks.

"Humph! Not all gone, then?" said the doctor, frowning.

"Not yet!" growled Dan'l. "And see there, Miss; there was four stunners
on that there little branch this mornin', and they're all gone!"

"Where is Master Dexter?" said the doctor.

Dan'l made a jerking motion with his thumb over his right shoulder, and
the doctor walked on over the grass toward the bottom of the grounds.

The little party advanced so noiselessly that they were unheard, and in
another minute they were near enough to hear Dexter exclaim--

"Now, then; this time--catch!"

The doctor stopped short in time to see, according to Dan'l's version,
the Ribstons and Sturmers thrown across the river to half the town.

"Half the town," according to Dan'l, consisted of Bob Dimsted, who had
laid down his rough fishing-rod, and was holding half an apple in one
hand, munching away the while, as he caught another deftly; and he was
in the act of stuffing it into his pocket as he caught sight of the
doctor, and stood for a few moments perfectly motionless. Then,
stooping quickly, he gathered up his tackle and ran.

"What's the matter!" cried Dexter.

Bob made no reply, but ran off; and as he did so, Dexter laughingly took
another apple from his pocket--a hard green Sturmer pippin, which he
threw with such force and accuracy that it struck Bob right in the
middle of the back, when the boy uttered a cry of alarm, ran more
swiftly, and Dexter stood for a moment roaring with laughter, and then
turned to find himself face to face with the trio who had come down the
garden.

"And them pippins worth twopence apiece at Christmas, sir!" cried Dan'l.

"What are you doing, Dexter!" cried the doctor sternly.

"I was only giving him an apple or two," said the boy, after a few
moments' hesitation.

"Come in, sir," cried the doctor.

"A month's notice, if you please, sir, from to-day," said Dan'l,
frowning angrily; but no one paid any heed to him, for the doctor had
laid his hand upon Dexter's shoulder, and marched him off.

"And I've never said nothing yet about our bees," grumbled Dan'l. "A
young tyke! Raddled 'em up with a long stick on purpose to get me stung
to death, he did, as is a massy I warn't. Well, a month to-day. Either
he goes or I do. Such whims, to