Thereby Hangs a Tale Part 20

"Grubs," said the gardener.

"Grubs, Sir Hampton," said the knight, fiercely.

"Grubs, Sir Hampton," said the corrected gardener.

"Ha!" said Sir Hampton, and they went a little farther.

"Those Wellingtonias are not growing, Sanders."

"Two foot this year," said the gardener.

"That's very slow."

"Fast," said the gardener.

"Fast, Sir Hampton," said the knight.

"Fast, Sir Hampton," said the gardener, corrected again.

"Er-rum! Ah! This won't do. This clump must be moved farther to the right," said Sir Hampton, pointing to a cl.u.s.ter of shrubs.

"Kill 'em," said Sanders.

"Then we'll set more," said the knight; and he went on to the farthest entrance of the garden, and the paths cut through the plantation, with a general desire exhibited in his every act, that as he had, so to speak, made the place and planted the grounds, it was absolutely necessary that he should have all the trees pulled up at stated intervals, to see how the roots were getting along.

There was a small iron gate at the end of the plantation walk, and this the gardener opened for his master to pa.s.s through, closing it after him, and sticking the billhook in his breast.

"Er-rum! Where are you going, Sanders?" said the knight, sharply.

"Back," said Sanders--"'taint garden here."

His domain extended no farther.

"Come along this moment, sir; and stop till I dismiss you."

The knight looked purple as the gardener slowly unlatched the gate, and followed him about a quarter of a mile, to where the estate joined that of the Trevors; and here, as they neared the pastures, angry voices were heard.

"Quick, Sanders," cried Sir Hampton--"trespa.s.sers!"

The next minute they were upon an angry group, consisting of Trevor, Pratt, Humphrey, a man with a sinister look and a mouth like a rat-trap, and a stumpy fellow, who was armed with a long plashing hook.

"Er-rum! what's this?" exclaimed Sir Hampton, with the voice of authority.

"These men of yours, Sir Hampton," said Humphrey, flushed and angry, "always trespa.s.sing across our ground."

"My servants would do nothing of the sort, fellow," said Sir Hampton.

"But they have done it, Sir Hampton," said Humphrey. "There they are; there's their footmarks right across the field; and they're always at it, and breaking down the bushes."

"Hold your tongue, Humphrey," said Trevor. "I beg your pardon--Sir Hampton Rea, I believe?"

The wasp sting, kept back so long, now came out.

"And pray, sir, why are you trespa.s.sing on my grounds?" exclaimed the knight, furiously.

"Excuse me, I am on my own," said Trevor.

"Your own! I never heard such insolence in my life. Who are you, sir?

What the devil are you? Where do you come from?"

"Well," said Trevor, with a red spot coming into each cheek, but speaking quite coolly, "my name is Trevor. I am the owner of Penreife, and I have lately returned from sea."

"Then--then--go back to sea, sir, or get off my grounds; or, by gad, sir, my labourers shall kick you off."

The men advanced menacingly; but, with a face like fire, Humphrey rolled up his cuffs.

"Humphrey! Stop; how dare you!" exclaimed Trevor, angrily.

The young keeper drew back, grinding his teeth; for the others continued to advance, and the rat-trap-mouthed man, finding Juno, the dog, smelling about him, gave the poor brute a kick, which produced a loud yelp.

"Excuse me, Sir Hampton, but--"

"Get off my grounds, sir, this instant!" roared the knight.

Wasp sting again.

"Look here," said Pratt, "if it's a question of boundary, any solicitor will look through the deeds, and a surveyor measure, and put it all right in--"

"Who the devil is this little cad?" exclaimed Sir Hampton.

"Cad?" cried Pratt.

"Yes, sir, cad. Oh! I thought I knew you again. Yes; you are one of that gang on the omnibus who insulted me the other day. And--and--" he stammered in his rage, turning to Trevor, "you were another of the party. Get off my grounds, sir--this instant, sir. Darley, Sanders, Kelynack--drive these fellows off!"

The three men advanced, and Sir Hampton took the general's place in the rear, quivering still with rage and the poison of the wasp. Trevor was now flushed and angry, and Humphrey evidently ripe for any amount of a.s.sault or resistance, when Pratt stepped forward and laid his hand upon the arm of the angry knight.

Volume 1, Chapter XII.

HEBE.

"Stand back, sir--get off my ground, sir!" cried Sir Hampton, furiously.

"Look here, men, this is--er-rum--an a.s.sault."

"No, it is not, Sir Hampton," said Pratt, coolly. "Look here, my good man."

"Your good man, sir?"

"Yes," said Pratt, quietly; and there was something in the little fellow that enforced attention. "You are, I believe, a magistrate here--for the county?"