'Mr. Swan,' says he, rather hot, 'this here is very
plain speaking.' 'I paid for my pipe myself,' says I, 'and I shall smoke
it which side my mouth I please.' So now you know why we quarrelled,
sir. It's the talk of all the country round, and well it may be, for
there's nobody fit to hold a candle to us two, and all the other
gardeners know it."
"I'll drink the stuff now," said Johnnie. "Father, is that you?"
"Yes, my dearest boy."
"You can't think how well I feel tonight, father. Swanny, go down and
have some supper, and mind you come again."
"Ay, to be sure, Mr. Johnnie."
"You're not going to sit up tonight, my good old friend," said John,
passing into the room.
"Well, no, sir, Mr. Johnnie hev cheated the doctor to that extent that
he's not to hev anybody by him this night, the nurse is to come in and
give him a look pretty frequent, and that's all."
John came and sat by his boy, took his thin hand, and kissed him.
"It's a lark, having old Swanny," said the young invalid, "he's been
reading me a review of Mr. Brandon's book.
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