ly ripe, father?" asked Gwyn.

"No, my boy, not nearly," said the Colonel, softly raising one in his
hand. "They may hang more than a month yet. We shall beat the Jersey
folk this year."

"Yes, father," said Gwyn, and he followed to where the Colonel stopped
before a peach tree, and stooped to pick up a downy red-cheeked fellow
which had fallen during the night.

"Not fully grown, Gwyn, but it's a very fine one," said the Colonel.

"Yes father--a beauty. Shall I take it in?"

"No, not good enough. Eat it, my boy."

Gwyn did not need any further telling, and the peach disappeared, the
stone being sent flying into the sea.

A little farther on, a golden tawny Jefferson plum was taken from a
tree, for the wasps had carved a little hole in the side, and this was
handed to the boy and eaten. A nectarine which had begun to shrink came
next; and from the hottest corner of the garden a good-tempered looking
fig, which seemed to have opened a laughing mouth as if full, and
rejoicing in its ripeness. After this a rosy apple or two and several
Bon Chretien pears, richly yellow, were picked up and transferred to the
boy's pocket, and the garden was made tidy once more, evidently to the
owner's satisfaction. Certainly to that of his son, who was most
diligent in disposing of the fruit in this way.

Then the Colonel sauntered into the little sloping vinery where the
purple and amber grapes were hanging, and Gwyn thrust in his head; but
as there were no berries to be eaten, and it was very hot, he drew back
and went up the slope toward the wall at the top, carefully peeling one
of the pears with a fishy pocket-knife.

He was in the act of throwing a long curl of peel over the wall when a
sun-browned face appeared as if on purpose to receive it, and started
back. Then there was a scrambling noise from the other side, as the
face disappeared very suddenly, and Gwyn burst out laughing.

"Hurt yourself?" he cried.

There was the sound of scrambling, and the face re-appeared.

"What did you do that for?" cried the owner.

"To get rid of the peel, stupid."

"Well, you might have chucked a pear instead."

"All right--catch."

A pear was thrown, dexterously caught, and the newcomer immediately took
a magnificent bite out of it.

"Oh! beauty!" he cried; and then, as he began to munch, he glanced down
at the pit he had excavated with his keen teeth right to the core. "Er!
Yah!" he cried, spitting out the piece. "W