A TALK WITH OUR GARDENER. 37

and hazard the remark that the day has been
hot.

“Well,” he replied, “for the matter 0’
that, ’ve known many an ’otter.”

I, mentally regret not having been pre-
sented with the skins of some of these ac-
quaintances, Williams goes on, however.

“Tt’sjust the right sort o’ weather this ’ere
for the strawberries, and, in fact, all the fruits
are coming on beautiful.”

T remark that I am glad to hear it, but,
feeling that I am not getting any nearer
my object, I rush into the subject at once
and say: “Williams, I wish you'd lend me
the key of the hot-house for a few minutes,
I want to see the roses Father has set aside
for the show.”

Williams stops in his work and leaning on
his rake looks up at me, “Now I wonder,
Miss Madge, that ye comes to me with such
a question as that, it’s a likely thing that I
should let you, nor any one in by them-
selves; and now, let me tell you this,” he
goes on slowly and emphatically, “the key