“Why, yer don’t mean to say yer been fighting, do ’ee?”
“Yes, I do, Ness. Going to finish the celery trench?”
“Yes, sir; but the ground’s mighty hard. Hot wuck, that it is. But where be going wi’ the spy-glass?”
“Over yonder along the cliffs to look at the Eilyguggs.”
“Eh?” cried the man, sharply. “’Long yonder, past the houses?”
“Yes.”
“Nay, nay, nay, I wouldn’t go that away. Go east’ard. It’s a deal better and nicer that way, and there’s more buds.”
“I’ll go that way another time,” said the boy, surlily, and he hurried on. “A nasty old cheat,” he muttered; “does he take me for a child? Water, indeed! Strong water, then. I shouldn’t a bit wonder if it was smuggled gin. But, there, I won’t tell tales.”
“Ahoy there!” shouted the gardener. “Master Aleck, there’s a sight more eggs yon other way.”
“Yes, I know,” cried the boy. “Another time.” Then to himself, “Bother his officiousness! Wants to be very civil so that I shan’t notice about his being there with that bottle.”