Arthur interrupted his father’s reverie, by pointing to a book and some young plants which lay upon the wall. “I fancy, father,” said he, “those things are for you, for there is a little note directed to you, in Maurice’s handwriting. Shall I bring it to you?” “Yes, let me read it, child, since I must.” It contained these words: “DEAR MR. OAKLY,—I don’t know why you have quarrelled with us; I am very sorry for it. But though you are angry with me, I am not angry with you. I hope you will not refuse some of my Brobdingnag raspberry-plants, which you asked for a great while ago, when we were all good friends. It was not the right time of the year to plant them, which was the reason they were not sent to you; but it is just the right time to plant them now; and I send you the book, in which you will find the reason why we always put seaweed ashes about their roots; and I have got some seaweed ashes for you. You will find the ashes in the flower-pot upon the wall. I have never spoken to Arthur, nor he to me, since you bid us not. So, wishing your Brobdingnag raspberries may turn out as well as ours, and longing to be all friends again, I am, with love to dear Arthur and self, “Your affectionate neighbour’s son, “MAURICE GRANT. “P.S.—It is now about four months since the quarrel began, and that is a very long while.” A great part of the effect of this letter was lost upon Oakly, because he was not very expert in reading writing, and it cost him much trouble to spell it and put it together. However, he seemed affected by it, and said, “I believe this Maurice loves you well enough, Arthur, and he seems a good sort of boy; but as to the raspberries, I believe all that he says about them is but an excuse; and, at anyrate, as I could not get ’em when I asked for them, I’ll not have ’em now. Do you hear me, I say, Arthur? What are you reading there?” Arthur was reading the page that was doubled down in the book, which Maurice had left along with the raspberry-plants upon the wall. Arthur read aloud as follows:— (_Monthly Magazine_, Dec. ’98, p. 421.)