72 A FLAT IRON FOR A FARTHING.

jokes more quickly, I got on very well
with him. ;

Very glad I was afterwards that I had
' gone back, and spent a friendly evening
with the kind old man; for the following
spring his asthma became worse and worse,
and he died. That visit was his last to us.
He teased me and Rubens no more. But
when I heard of his death, I felt what I
said, that I was very sorry. He had been
very kind, and his pokes and jokes were
trifles to look back upon.

Mr. Andrewes kept up his interest in my
garden. Indeed, I soon got beyond the
childish way of gardening ; I ceased to use
my watering-pot recklessly, and to take up
my plants to see how they were getting on.
I was promoted from my little beds to
some share in the large flower-garden.
My father was very fond of his flowers,
and greatly pleased to find me useful.

Some of the happiest hours I ever spent
were those in which I worked with him in
“the big garden ;” Rubens lying in the
sun, keeping imaginary guard over my
father’s coat. We had a friendly rivalry
with the Rectory, in which I felt the
highest interest. Sometimes, however, I
helped Mr. Andrewes himself, when he
rewarded me with plants and good ad-
vice. The latter often in quaint rhymes,
such as _

‘This rule in gardening never forget,
To sow dry, and to set wet.”

But after a time, and to my deep regret,
Mr. Andrewes gave up the cate of my

education. He said his duties in the parish
did not allow of his giving much time to
me ; and though my father had no special
wish to press my studies, and was more
anxious for the benefit of the Rector’s in-
fluence, Mr. Andrewes at last persuaded
him that he ought to get a resident tutor
and prepare me for a public school.

By this time I had almost forgotten my
foolish prejudice against the imaginary Mr.
Gray, and was only sorry that I could no
longer do lessons with the Rector.

I suppose it was in answer to some in-
quiries that he made that my father heard
of a gentleman who wanted such a situa-
tion as ours. He heard of him from Leo
Damer’s guardian, and the gentleman
proved to be the very tutor whom I had
seen from the nursery windows of aunt
Maria’s house. He had remained with
Leo ever since, but as Leo’s guardian had
now sent him to school, the tutor was at
liberty.

In these circumstances, I felt that he
was not quite a stranger, and was prepared
to receive him favourably.

Indeed, when his arrival was close at
hand, Nurse Bundle and I took an hospi-
table pleasure in looking over the arrange- -
ments of his room, and planning little de-
tails for his comfort. -

He came at last, and my father was
able to announce to Aunt Maria (who had
never approved of what she called “ Mr.
Andrewes’ desultory style of teaching”)
that my education was now placed in the
hands of a resident tutor.