There was plenty to do in the glass-houses, but it was always such interesting work that I was never tired of it; and it was delightful to me to see the fruit ripening and the progress of the glorious flowers that we grew.

Mr Solomon was always ready to tell or show me anything, and I suppose he was satisfied with me, for he used to nod now and then--he never praised; and Mrs Solomon sometimes smiled at me, but not very often.
The autumn was well advanced when one day Mr Solomon told me that he had arranged for Ike, as he was a good carter, to go with the strongest horse and cart to a place he named in Surrey, to fetch a good load of a particular kind of silver sand for potting.
"It's a long journey, Grant," he said; "and you'll have to start very early, but I thought you would like to go.

Be a change." "I should like it," I said.

"Does Ike know I'm going ?" "No; you can tell him." I went down to Ike, who was as usual digging, for he was the best handler of a spade in the garden, and he liked the work.
"Hullo!" he said surlily.
"I'm to go with you for the sand, Ike," I cried.
"Think o' that now!" he replied with a grim smile.

"Why, I was just a-thinking it would be like going off with the old cart and Bonyparty to market, and how you and me went." "With Shock on the top of the load," I said laughing.
"Ay, to be sure.