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The sage had felt interest in the growth of this rude intelligence struggling up to light. But what with the wooing and what with the wedding, Lenny Fairfield had sunk very much out of his artificial position as pupil into his natural station of under-gardener.
"Well, Bobby," she said, laying her hand on his shoulder, "where have you been?" "To see old Swallow'd-the-poker, Hetty." "What took you there?" asked the girl in surprise. "My legs. You don't suppose I've set up my carriage yet, do you?" "Come, you know what I mean." "Vell, then, I went because I was sent for, an' wot d'ye think? the old gen'l'man hoffered me the sitivation of under-gardener!"
Professor Mayda, another friend of Selva's, engaged him as under-gardener at the villa which he built two years ago on the Aventine, below Sant' Anselmo. The new under-gardener, who wished to be called simply Benedetto, as at Jenne, soon became popular in the whole Testaccio quarter.
The way he spoke to the master beats everything. "`I've sent for you, my boy, said Sir Richard, in his usual dignified, kindly way, `to offer you the situation of under-gardener in my establishment."
"It can't do any good," grumbled Jonas, "and we might be overheard." "I will be cautious. You may be sure of that. But why do you look so annoyed?" "Why? Reason enough. That boy Dan, the under-gardener, has been impudent to me." "He has?" said Mrs. Brent quickly. "What has he done?" Jonas rehearsed the story. He found in his mother a sympathetic listener.
"I didn't know, Mr Ellis, that it was insolent for a man to come in a straightforward way, and say to the father of the young lady simply yes, and humbly `I love your daughter, sir." "But it is, sir, downright insolence. Recollect what you are, sir, only an under-gardener living at the bothy on thirty shillings a week." "I do recollect it, sir, but I don't mean to be an under-gardener always."
He could scarcely walk at first, and it was only by leanin' heavily upon my shoulder that he managed to get along. I got him through the gate, leavin' it unlocked behind me, and trustin' to the chance of that not bein' noticed by the under-gardener, who had the care of the key, and was a careless chap enough.
Luckily, there was an under-gardener below, and I asked him to throw it up. No doubt he thought I had just dropped it. I will have doors and windows screwed up and six stout men to hold me down in my bed before I will surrender myself to be hag-ridden in this way. I had a note from Mrs. Marden this afternoon asking me to go round and see her.
Shelton listened to the kindly briskness with which she dwelt upon the under-gardener. "Poor Bunyan! he lost his wife six months ago, and was quite cheerful just at first, but now he 's really too distressin'. I 've done all I can to rouse him; it's so melancholy to see him mopin'. And, my dear Dick, the way he mangles the new rose-trees!
Lady Mary was the only member of the household that was not on the lawn, and was protesting unheard against the violence to two poor men who were there because they had been invited to come by the under-gardener. I saw in the twinkling of an eye that the house had been deserted on the first outcry. Doors were left wide open for the whole world to enter.