"Yes, sir, coming," I shouted, for I heard Mr Solomon asking for me.
I went to him, and he set me to water the pots that had been plunged under the big wall; but on going to the pump in the middle of the big walk, where the well was that we used for this garden, I found the handle swing loosely up and down.
I went and told Mr Solomon that there was no water to be had there.
"I thought as much!" he cried angrily.

"I saw those boys jerking the handle about yesterday.

Here, Bunce!" Bunce was sent off with a message, and I went about some other task, glad to find that Ike was there at work, for somehow I liked him, though I did not know why, since he was always very gruff and snappish with me.
But still it seemed as if he had come to Hampton because I was there.
The next morning, after breakfast, as I went down the garden I found that Mr Solomon was by the well talking to a man who carried a basket of tools.
As I approached he put them down, Mr Solomon helped him, and together they lifted up a great stone in the pathway, which covered the mouth of the well.
There is something very attractive and yet repellent about a well, at least to me.

I always want to look down it and listen to the peculiar echoing noise, and the whispers that seem to creep about its green wet sides.
It was so here, and while the man stood talking to Mr Solomon I went down on one knee and peered into the well, to see, far down, a glistening round of what looked like a mirror with my face in it, but in a blurred indistinct way, for there was a musical splashing of water falling from the sides, and as I bent lower the air seemed cold and dank, while above it was sunny and warm.
I started up suddenly, for just then I heard a laugh, and recalling the way in which I had been thrust into the pond I did not care to risk a kick from him who laughed, or from his companion.
For, attracted by Bunce, who was carrying a long ladder, they asked him if he was going to gather fruit, and on learning that the well was being opened they, to use their own words, came to see the fun.
Bunce laid the ladder along the path and went off again to his work, while the two boys seemed to ignore my presence, and stood talking to one another and waiting, Philip throwing stones, while Courtenay amused himself by kicking a coil of rope that lay upon the path.
"Here, Grant," cried Mr Solomon, turning upon me suddenly.

"Run to the cottage and get a candle and a box of matches." "Yes, sir," I said, going.
"Yes sir, certainly sir, yes sir," said Philip in a mocking tone.
"And, Grant," shouted Mr Solomon, "bring one of the men with you." "Bunce ?" I said.
"No, he's busy.