- THE SIX OF SPADES. 183 



satisfied until " First Prize " is nailed on his box. 

 There's only one exhibition in which I should prefer to 

 be second, and that's an exhibition of genteel brutality 

 which they calls a duel. Let him make up his mind, 

 I say, to excel in something, and there's as much 

 honour and as much happiness to be found in 

 producing twelve first-rate Auriculas as in the display 

 of twelve haycocks o' bloom as have filled two trucks 

 on the rail. 



And now I must warn exhibitors, that although 

 we gardeners are as honest as other folks (we ought 

 to be a little bit more so, and I sometimes venture to 

 think that we are, because we work so near to God), 

 they will meet now and then with certain dodges and 

 deceptions invented to mislead them by a few flora- 

 sharpers, who, if they can't win by honours, will try 

 to win by tricks. Three times, my brothers, have I 

 been done by them individuals several shades browner 

 than pleased my taste. 



On the first occasion, it is true, I was taken in 

 quite good-humouredly, only for the fun of the thing, 

 and could not have w r on under any circumstances, but 

 somehow I didn't like it. My master had backed me 

 against the gardener of a relation, who lived in the 

 neighbourhood, to exhibit twelve pansies in pots at 

 the next local flower-show; and I was rather sur- 

 prised to hear, only a week before the exhibition, 

 that we were invited to pay a visit in the family way 

 (I was often taken out for a holiday of this kind by 

 my employer a true brother gardener) and go into 

 the enemy's camp. We went accordingly, and in 

 walking round the gardens we came upon an un- 



