You do them, and I will take up the fork and dig up that piece of ground I want to put the young lettuces into." Reuben worked hard till half-past eight, and then went off to his breakfast.

On his return, he was told the squire wished to speak to him.
"It's about that dog, I expect," the gardener remarked.

"I suppose you know he were poisoned last night." "No, I didn't know," Reuben replied; "but it's a precious good job.
I wish he had been poisoned before he got his teeth into me." Reuben, on going round to the back door, was shown into the library, where the squire was sitting.

The coachman was with him.
"Now then, Reuben," the squire said, "I want you to tell me the truth about this matter.

The coachman told me, three days ago, that you had been bitten by the yard dog, and I made up my mind to get rid of him, on the first opportunity; but I find he was poisoned, yesterday evening." He stopped as if expecting Reuben to say something; but the boy, having nothing to say, merely replied: "Yes, sir, so the gardener has told me." "What do you know about it, Reuben ?" "I don't know anything about it, sir," Reuben replied, opening his eyes.
"Now, look here, lad," the squire said gravely, "I am disposed to think well of you; and although I consider it a serious offence your poisoning the dog, I shall consider it very much worse if you deny it." "But I didn't poison it, sir," Reuben affirmed.