for it is only the middle that's be cut. All the rest stand for hay, to
be sure. Ay, indeed."

"And when will the hay be cuttened?" inquired Ted.

"That's be as Master order, and not as Master can choose neither--no,"
said David. "He not able to make for the sun to shine; no, indeed; nor
the rain neither,--no."

"'_Dod_ sends rain and sun," said Ted, reverently, but yet looking at
David with a sort of curiosity.

"Well, indeed you are right, Master Ted. Yes, yes. But I must get on
with my work. God gives us work to do, too; ay, indeed; and them as not
work never expect to eat, no, never; they not care for their victual
anyhow if they not work for it. No."

Ted looked rather puzzled. "Ted eats," he said,--"not victuals--Ted
doesn't know that meat--but bread and butter, and tea, and potatoes,
and rice pudding, and meat, and _sometimes_ 'tawberry jam and apple pie
and--and--lots of things. And Ted likes zem very much, but him doesn't
work."

"I not know for that, Master Ted," said David, "is it all kinds of work;
ay, indeed; and I see you very near always busy--dear me, yes; working
very good, Master Ted--ay."

Illustration:
"I wish thoo'd let me help thoo to cut the grass."--P. 32.

"I _like_ to be busy. I wish thoo'd let me help thoo to cut the grass,"
said Ted, eyeing David wistfully, as he started his big scythe, for the
old gardener knew nothing of mowing machines, and would most likely
have looked upon them with great contempt. But he stopped short a moment
to look down at wee Ted, staring up at him and wishing to be in his
place.

"No, indeed, Master Ted _bach_!" he said; "you soon have your cliver
little legs and arms cut to pieces, if you use with my scythe, Master
Ted--ay, indeed, d'rectly. It look easy, to be sure, but it not so easy
even for a cliver man like you, Master Ted--no, indeed. But I tell you
what you shall do. You shall help to make the grass to a heaps, and then
I put it in a barrow and wheel it off. Ay, indeed; that be the best."

This proposal was very much to Ted's taste. Chevie and he, at a safe
distance from David's scythe, thought it great fun to toss about the
soft fine grass and imagine they were helping David tremendously. And
after a while, when Chevie began to think he had had enough of it, and
with a sort of condescending growl by way of explanation, stretched
himself out in the sunshine for a little forenoon sleep, David left off
cutting, and, with Ted's help of cours