"Hold the steps steady," he said; and then with his head in amongst the
leaves he went on talking.
"Bit queer in the head," he said slowly, and with his face averted.
"Shied at you."
I stared. His wife was not a horse, and I thought they were the only
things that shied; but I found I was wrong, for Mr Solomon went on: "I did, too. Ezra said a lot about you. Fine young shoot this, ain't
it?"
I said it was, for it was about ten feet long and as thick as my finger,
and it seemed wonderful that it should have grown like that in a few
months; but all the time my cheeks were tingling as I wondered what Old
Brownsmith had said about me.
"Sounded all right, but it's risky to take a boy into your house when
you are comfortable without, you see."
I felt ashamed and hurt that I should have been talked of so, and
remained silent.
"The missus said you might be dirty and awkward in the house. This cane
will be loaded next year if we get it well ripened this year, Grant.
That's why I'm tying it in here close to the glass, where it'll get
plenty of sun and air."
"What! will that bear grapes next year, sir?" I said, for I felt
obliged to say something.
"Yes; and when the leaves are off you shall cut this one right out down
at the bottom yonder."
He tapped a beautiful branch or cane from the main stem, which was
bearing about a dozen fine bunches of grapes, and it seemed a pity; but
of course he knew best, and he began cutting and snapping out shoots and
big leaves between the new green cane and the glass.
"She was afraid you'd be a nuisance to me, and said you'd be playing
with tops, and throwing stones, and breaking the glass. I told her that
Brother Ezra wouldn't send me such a boy as that; but she only shook her
head. `I know what boys are,' she said. `Look at her ladyship's two.'
But I said that you wouldn't be like them, and you won't, will you?"
I laughed, for it seemed such a comical idea for me to be behaving as
Mrs Solomon had supposed.
"What are you laughing at?" he said, looking down at me.
"I was thinking about what Mrs Brownsmith said," I replied.
"Oh yes! To be sure," he continued. "You'll like her. She's a very
nice woman. A very good woman. I've known her thirty years."
"Have you had any children, sir?" I said.
"No," he replied, looking at me with a twinkle in his eye; "and yet I've
always been looking after nurseries--all my life."