“Not on any account, sir! I have grave misgivings about talking to you so long here, and I am mainly reconciled by remembering how disagreeable I have proved myself.” “How I wish I had your good spirits!” “Why don't you rather wish for my fortunate lot in life,--so secure from casualties, so surrounded with life's comforts, so certain to attach to it consideration and respect? Take my word for it, Mr. Conyers, your own position is not utterly wretched; it is rather a nice thing to be a Lieutenant of Hussars, with good health, a good fortune, and a fair promise of mustachios. There, now, enough of impertinence for one day. I have a deal to do, and you 'll not help me to do it. I have a whole tulip-bed to transplant, and several trees to remove, and a new walk to plan through the beech shrubbery, not to speak of a change of domicile for the pigs,--if such creatures can be spoken of in your presence. Only think, three o'clock, and that weary Darby not got back from his dinner! has it ever occurred to you to wonder at the interminable time people can devote to a meal of potatoes?” “I cannot say that I have thought upon the matter.” “Pray do so, then; divide the matter, as a German would, into all its 'Bearbeitungen,' and consider it ethnologically, esculently, and aesthetically, and you'll be surprised how puzzled you 'll be! Meanwhile, would you do me a favor?--I mean a great favor.” “Of course I will; only say what it is.” “Well; but I 'm about to ask more than you suspect.” “I do not retract. I am ready.” “What I want, then, is that you should wheel that barrow-ful of mould as far as the melon-bed. I 'd have done it myself if you had not been here.” With a seriousness which cost him no small effort to maintain, Conyers addressed himself at once to the task; and she walked along at his side, with a rake over her shoulder, talking with the same cool unconcern she would have bestowed on Darby. “I have often told Miss Barrington,” said she, “that our rock melons were finer than hers, because we used a peculiar composite earth, into which ash bark and soot entered,--what you are wheeling now, in fact, however hurtful it may be to your feelings. There! upset it exactly on that spot; and now let me see if you are equally handy with a spade.” [Illustration: 276] “I should like to know what my wages are to be after all this,” said he, as he spread the mould over the bed. “We give boys about eightpence a day.” “Boys! what do you mean by boys?” “Everything that is not married is boy in Ireland; so don't be angry, or I 'll send you off. Pick up those stones, and throw these dock-weeds to one side.” “You 'll send me a melon, at least, of my own raising, won't you?” “I won't promise; Heaven knows where you'll be--where I 'll be, by that time! Would _you_ like to pledge yourself to anything on the day the ripe fruit shall glow between those pale leaves?” “Perhaps I might,” said he, stealing a half-tender glance towards her.