ike a sunflower, is called "Golden Dreams."'

"'Come along, Henery,' ses Bill Chambers, bursting, 'come and get
something to take the taste out of your mouth.'

"'I'm sorry I can't offer you a flower for your button-'ole,' ses Bob,
perlitely, 'but it's getting so near the Flower Show now I can't afford
it. If you chaps only knew wot pleasure was to be 'ad sitting among
your innercent flowers, you wouldn't want to go to the public-house so
often.'

"He shook 'is 'ead at 'em, and telling his wife to give the 'Dook o'
Wellington' a mug of water, sat down in the chair agin and wiped the
sweat off 'is brow.

"Bill Chambers did a bit o' thinking as they walked up the road, and by
and by 'e turns to Joe Gubbins and 'e ses:

"'Seen anything o' George English lately, Joe?'

"'_Yes_,' ses Joe.

"'Seems to me we all 'ave,' ses Sam Jones.

"None of 'em liked to say wot was in their minds, 'aving all seen George
English and swore pretty strong not to tell his secret, and none of 'em
liking to own up that they'd been digging up their gardens to get money
as 'e'd told 'em about. But presently Bill Chambers ses:

"'Without telling no secrets or breaking no promises, Joe, supposing a
certain 'ouse was mentioned in a certain letter from forrin parts, wot
'ouse was it?'

"'Supposing it was so,' ses Joe, careful too; 'the second 'ouse counting
from the Cauliflower.'

"'The ninth 'ouse, you mean,' ses Henery Walker, sharply.

"'Second 'ouse in Mill Lane, you mean,' ses Sam Jones, wot lived there.

"Then they all see 'ow they'd been done, and that they wasn't, in a
manner o' speaking, referring to the same letter. They came up and sat
'ere where we're sitting now, all dazed-like. It wasn't only the chance
o' losing the prize that upset 'em, but they'd wasted their time and
ruined their gardens and got called mad by the other folks. Henery
Walker's state o' mind was dreadful for to see, and he kep' thinking
of 'orrible things to say to George English, and then being afraid they
wasn't strong enough.

"While they was talking who should come along but George English
hisself! He came right up to the table, and they all sat back on the
bench and stared at 'im fierce, and Henery Walker crinkled 'is nose at
him.

"'Evening,' he ses, but none of 'em answered im; they all looked at
Henery to see wot 'e was going to say.

"'Wot's up?' ses George, in surprise.

"'_Gardens_,' ses Henery.

"'So I've 'eard,' ses George.

"He shoo