nd that as soon as the
two boys had gone back to their school I should be as happy as could be.

I was gradually getting to like Mr Solomon, and Mrs Solomon grew more
kind to me every day. The men about the garden, too, were all very
civil to me, and beyond a little bit of good-humoured banter from them
now and then I had no cause for complaint.

My great fear was that they would catch up the name young Philip had
bestowed upon me. That they knew of it I had pretty good evidence, for
one day when I was busy over one of the verbena beds--busy at a task Mr
Solomon had set me after the sun had made the peach-house too hot, a big
bluff gardener came and worked close by me, mowing the grass in a shady
part under some trees.

"It's dry, and cuts like wire," he said, stopping to wipe his scythe and
give it a touch with the stone, making the blade ring and send forth
what always sounded to be pleasant music to me.

"Oughtn't you to cut it when the dew is on?" I said.

"Yes, squire, if you can," he replied; "but there is so much grass we
can't get over it all in the early morning."

He went on mowing, and I continued my task of pegging down the long
shoots of the beautiful scarlet, crimson, and white flowers, just as Mr
Solomon had instructed me, when all at once he came and looked on,
making me feel very nervous; but he nodded and went away, so I supposed
he was satisfied, and I worked on again as cheerfully as could be, till
all at once I felt the blood flush up in my face, for the voice of young
Philip Dalton came unpleasantly grating on my ear, as he said:

"Hullo, Bunce, mowing again?"

"Yes, Master Philup, mowin' again."

"Why, you've got the pauper there!" cried Philip. "I say, did you know
he was a pauper?"

"No," said Bunce, "I didn't know. Do you want your legs ampytated?"

"No, stoopid, of course I don't."

"Then get outer the way or I shall take 'em off like carrots."

"Get out!" said Philip, as I saw that he was watching me. "I say,
though, did you know that he was a pauper, and lived on skilly?"

"No," said the gardener quietly; and I felt as if I must get up and go
away, for now I knew I should be a mark of contempt for the whole staff
who worked in the garden.

"He was," said Philip.

"Pauper, was he?" said Bunce, making his scythe glide round in a half
circle. "I shouldn't ha' thought it."

"Oh but he was or is, and always will be," said the boy maliciously.
"Once a pauper always a pa