A GARDENER'S AND EMPLOYER'S QUESTION. 67 



in the place, since he's moved nobody knows 

 where." 



As I was busy with the men one day 

 making some alterations in the shrubberies, 

 a gentleman, who lived not far off, came 

 into the grounds, and walked on one side 

 with the squire, and had a long talk with 

 him ; and then they beckoned me to them, 

 when the gentleman said, " Gregory, what's 

 your opinion of this case ? My gardener is 

 going to leave me, and claims a lot of plants, 

 which he says he had given to him, and which 

 are now some of the best in my conservatory. 

 We're parting on very good terms, and I really 

 wish to do what's right ; but I don't mean 

 him to take them away till I feel more sure 

 than I do just now that he has any business 

 at all with them. Now tell me .honestly what 

 you think about it as a brother-gardener; 

 mind, I know nothing about them, whether 

 he got them in exchange or not, but I've seen 

 them in my house for more than a year." 



I thought over it a bit, and then said, 

 " I think I can get you an answer, if you'll 

 go with me to our two old woodmen, and 

 they're not far off; and I'd rather do that 

 than give you one my self. " 



