CHAPTER TWENTY.
A COLD START IN A NEW LIFE.
Brother Solomon loitered about the garden with Old Brownsmith, and it was not until we had had an early tea that I had to fetch down my little box to put in the cart, which was standing in the yard with Shock holding the horse, and teasing it by thrusting a barley straw in its nostrils and ears.
As I came down with the box, Mrs Dodley said "Good-bye" very warmly and wetly on my face, giving as she said: "Mind you send me all your stockings and shirts and I'll always put them right for you, my dear, and Goodbye." She hurried away, and as soon as my box was in the cart I ran down the garden to say "Good-bye" to Ike; but he had gone home, so I was told, and I came back disappointed.
"Good-bye, Shock!" I said, holding out my hand; but he did not take it, only stared at me stolidly, just as if he hated me and was glad I was going; and this nettled me so that I did not mind his sulkiness, and drawing myself up, I tried hard to smile and look as if I didn't care a bit.
Brother Solomon came slowly towards the cart, rolling the stalk of a rosebud in his mouth, and as he took the reins he said to one of the chimneys at the top of the house: "If I was you, Ez, I'd plant a good big bit with that winter lettuce.
You'll find 'em go off well." I knew now that he was talking to his brother, but he certainly seemed to be addressing himself to the chimney-pot.
"I will, Sol, a whole rood of 'em," said Old Brownsmith, "and thank ye for the advice." "Quite welkim," said Brother Solomon to the horse's ears.

"Jump up." He seemed to say this to Shock, who stared at him, wrinkled up his face, and shook his head.
"Yes, jump up, Grant, my lad," said Old Brownsmith.

"Fine evening for your drive." "Yes, sir," I said, "good-bye; and say good-bye to Ike for me, will you, please ?" "Yes, to be sure, good-bye; God bless you, lad; and do your best." And I was so firm and hard just before, thinking no one cared for me, that I was ready to smile as I went away.
That "God bless you!" did it, and that firm pressure of the hand.

He did like me, then, and was sorry I was going; and though I tried to speak, not a word would come.

I could only pinch my lips together and give him an agonised look--the look of an orphan boy going off into what was to him an unknown world.
I was so blinded by a kind of mist in my eyes that I could not distinctly see that all the men and women were gathered together close to the cart, it being near leaving time; but I did see that Brother Solomon nodded at one of the gate-posts, as he said: "Tlck! go on." And then, as the wheels turned and we were going out of the gate, there was a hoarse "_Hooroar_!" from the men, and a shrill "_Hurray_!" from the women; and then--_whack_! A great stone had hit the panel at the back of the cart, and I knew without telling that it was Shock who had thrown that stone.
Then we were fairly off, with Brother Solomon sitting straight up in the cart beside me, and the horse throwing out his legs in a great swinging trot that soon carried us past the walls of Old Brownsmith's garden, and past the hedges into the main road, on a glorious evening that had succeeded the storm of the previous night; but, fast as the horse went, Brother Solomon did not seem satisfied, for he kept on screwing up his lips and making a noise, like a young thrush just out of the nest, to hurry the horse on, but it had not the slightest effect, for the animal had its own pace--a very quick one, and kept to it.
I never remember the lane to have looked so beautiful before.