MY NEW PLACE AND MASTER. 19 



and dirty, and at sixes and sevens, and yet 

 there was a good deal for that part and 

 those days ; there was a conservatory, 

 greenhouse, and pits, with two houses of 

 grapes. It was November, and not a 

 flower. As soon as my new employer was 

 up, I was ordered in. He first asked me 

 how I liked the look of things, and I told 

 him very well indeed. He said he was glad 

 of that ; his old gardener that had died was 

 " a very clever fellow," and . he hoped I 

 should be as good. And I've heard this 

 same said many a time since by gentlemen 

 over as stupid fellows as ever robbed a real 

 gardener of a place. He told me, in a way 

 I was quite strange to, that he wished to 

 see every body about him happy and com- 

 fortable, and that he must have no quarrel- 

 ling ; and if those under me did not behave 

 as I wished, I was to tell them civilly, and 

 if they did not mend then, to bring them 

 before him. He said I must join a benefit- 

 club that the clergyman managed, and try 

 and save something beside. u And mind," 

 said he, " though you are upon trial, what 

 you are at first is your own pattern, and I 

 must have all the piece like it." He then 



