305 



That evening Robert was late to tea, so I went out to 

 see why he did not come. I found him by the barn, with 

 a huge pile of radishes before him on a rude bench. He 

 and the boy were busy tying them up in bunches of ten 

 each. 



" Slow work, is it not? " said I, taking up a few, and pre- 

 paring to make up a bunch myself. 



" Yes, it is very slow. At this rate we shall have to 

 hire more help soon in order to gather our crops. The peas 

 are rapidly ripening, and the lettuce is all heading up 

 at once." 



" How would it do to employ girls about your picking? " 



" I don't know. I never thought of it." 



" It would be worth trying, at any rate." 



" Do you think we could find any girls to work for us, 

 Jack?" 



"Can't say, sir. Never heard tell of such a thing 

 before." 



" Can you not ask Mr. Kempenfielder, or Mrs. Comfort? 

 Perhaps they could help us," said I, tying my bunch with a 

 piece of string. Just then a new idea came to me : Is 

 there not some better way of doing this ? 



" Would we not save time if we divided the labor, 

 Robert?" 



"How so?" 



