The new-comer went slowly up the ladder, looked at my work, and then
took out a small knife with a flat ivory handle, came down again,
stropped the knife on his boot, went up, and pared my stump just round
the edge, taking off a very thin smooth piece of bark.
"Good!" he said as he wiped his knife, came down, and put the knife
away; "but your knife wanted a touch on a bit o' Turkey-stone. How are
you, Ezra?"
Old Brownsmith set down some cats gently, got up off the bushel basket
slowly, and shook hands.
"Fairly, Solomon, fairly; and how are you?"
"Tidy," said the visitor, "tidy;" and he stared very hard at me. "This
is him, is it?"
"Yes, this is he, Solomon. Grant, my lad, this is my brother Solomon."
I bowed after the old fashion taught at home.
"Shake hands. How are you?" said Mr Solomon; and I shook hands with
him and said I was quite well, I thanked him; and he said, "Hah!"
"He has just come up from Hampton, Grant--from Sir Francis Linton's.
He's going to take you back."
"Take me back, sir!" I said wonderingly. "Have--have I done anything
you don't like?"
"No, my lad, no--only I've taught you all I can; and now you will go
with him and learn gardening under glass--to grow peaches, and grapes,
and mushrooms, and all kinds of choice flowers."
I looked at him in a troubled way, and he hastened to add: "A fine opportunity for you, my boy. Brother Solomon is a very famous
gardener and takes prizes at the shows."
"Oh! as to that," said Brother Solomon, "we're not much. We do the best
we can."
"Horticultural medals, gold and bronze," said Old Brownsmith, smiling.
"There!--you'll have to do so as well, Grant, my lad--you will have to
do me credit."
I crept close to him and half-whispered: "But must I go, sir?"
"Yes, my lad, it is for your benefit," he said rather sternly; and I
suppose I gave him such a piteous look that his face softened a little
and he patted my shoulder. "Come," he said, "you must be a man!"
I seemed to have something in my throat which I was obliged to swallow;
but I made an effort, and after a trial or two found that I could speak
more clearly.
"Shall I have to go soon, sir?"
"Yes: now," said Old Brownsmith.
"Not till I've had a look round," said Brother Solomon in a slow
meditative way, as he took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands,
staring about him at the trees and bushes, and then, as a cat gave a
friendly rub against his leg, he stooped down after the fashion of his
brother, picked it up, and held it on his arm, stroking it all the time.