by expatiating on the
perfections of his favourites. While the old gentleman was going the
round of his flower beds, stooping down with his hands behind him, to
admire, as if to avoid the temptation of touching the rich blossoms, a
person approached, who, from his green apron, his general costume, and
the wheelbarrow he trundled full of tools before him, was easily
recognised as the gardener. He could not have been much younger than
his master, but was still strong and hearty.

"They are doing well, Joseph; we shall have some more in bloom in a day
or two," observed Mr Fluke.

"Yes, praise the Lord, the weather has been propitious and rewarded the
care we have bestowed on His handiworks," answered the old gardener. "I
am in hopes that the last bulbs the Dutch skipper Captain Van Tronk
brought over will soon be above ground, and they will not be long after
that coming into bloom."

Mr Fluke, having had some confidential conversation with his gardener
on the subject of his bulbs, and given him various directions, it by
that time growing dusk, summoned Owen to return to the house.

"A pretty long quarter of an hour you've been," exclaimed Kezia to her
master, as he re-entered; "it's always so when you get talking to my man
Joseph Crump about the tulips. If the rump steak is over-done it's not
my fault."

Mr Fluke made no reply, except by humbly asking for his slippers, which
Kezia having brought, she assisted him in taking off his shoes.

"There, go in both of you, and you shall have supper soon," she
exclaimed in an authoritative tone, and Mr Fluke shuffled into his
parlour.

Owen remarked, that though Mr Fluke ruled supreme in his
counting-house, there was another here to whom he seemed to yield
implicit obedience. Not a word of remonstrance did he utter at whatever
Kezia told him to do; it was, however, pretty evident that whatever she
did order, was to his advantage. Probably, had she not assumed so
determined a manner, she would have failed to possess the influence she
exerted over her master. He made a sign to Owen to take a seat opposite
him on one side of the fire. Mrs Kezia Crump, as she was generally
designated outside the house, placed an ample supper on the board--in
later days it would have been called a dinner--two basins of soup, some
excellently cooked rump steak, and an apple tart of goodly proportions.

"I know boys like apple tart, and you may help him as often as he asks
for it," she