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Updated: May 14, 2025
As I said, a fortnight had passed, and the fruit-picking was at its height as far as pears and apples went, when one night, after a very hot day, when the cart was waiting in the yard, loaded up high with bushel and half-bushel baskets, and the horse was enjoying his corn, and rattling his chain by the manger, I left Old Brownsmith smoking his pipe and reading a seed-list, and strolled out into the garden.
It seemed that he had been a widower for many years, and Mrs Dodley, the housekeeper and general servant all in one, confided to me one day that "Missus's" bonnets and shawls and gowns were all hanging up in their places just as they had been left by Mrs Brownsmith.
Does Mr Brownsmith know?" "Oh! yes, he knows. I like 'em. I eat frogs once. Ain't fish good? I ketch 'em in the medders." "Where you saved me when I was drowning?" I said hastily.
Then as I stood looking at my box and wondering what Shock was doing, and whether he had gone to his home or was sleeping in the loft, and why Ike was so surly to me, and what a miserable piece of business it was that I should have to leave that pleasant old garden and Old Brownsmith, I suddenly felt a hand laid upon my shoulder. I started and stared as I saw Mr Solomon's cold, stern face.
"I'm very much obliged to you," I added, for I had glanced at the bunch of roses; and as I looked at the fresh sweet-scented beauties I thought of how delighted my poor mother would be, and I could not help feeling that old Brownsmith had been very generous.
That's being a trump, that is; and we two's shipmates after this here." Old Brownsmith did not speak, and Ike went on: "I say, master, what a bad un you do think me! I'd ha' hated myself as long as I lived, and never forgive myself, if I'd done such a thing. Look ye here my monkey's up now, master did yer ever know me ill-use the 'orses?" "No, Ike," said Old Brownsmith shortly. "Never once.
Old Brownsmith used to have me over to spend Sundays with him, and his brother and Mrs Solomon were very kind. Ike sometimes went so far as to say "Good-morning" and "good-night," and Shock had become so friendly that he would talk, and bring me a good moth or butterfly for my case.
I had been at the garden about a week when Old Brownsmith began talking about picking some of his pippins to send to market. "I hear they are making a good price," he said, "and I shall try a few sieves to-morrow morning, Grant." "Yes, sir," I said, for the sound of apple-picking was pleasant.
Ike uttered a low grunt, and went off with his hands in his pockets, and Old Brownsmith came and laid his hand upon my shoulder. "Pretty well bed-time, Grant, my boy. Let's go in." I followed him in, feeling rather low-spirited, but when he had lit a candle he turned to me with a grim smile. "Ike didn't like what I said to him, but it won't do him any harm."
Old Brownsmith saw my looks, and he said: "You will run over now and then to see me and tell me how you get on. Brother Solomon here never likes to leave his glass-houses, but you can get away now and then. Eh, Solomon?" "P'r'aps," said Brother Solomon, looking right away from us. "We shall see." My heart sank as I saw how cold and unsympathetic he seemed.
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