Have one ?" He answered quite sharply, and I took a step back, for I had not had my breakfast.

I was rather disposed to be faint from the effects of my last night's accident, and the sight of what was going on made me ready to flee, for all at once, after letting his dirty fingers hover for a few moments over the hot stone, he picked up the largest snail, blew it as he threw it from hand to hand because it was hot, and ended by holding it out to me with: "Got a big pin ?" I shrank away from him with my lip curling, and I uttered a peculiar "Ugh!" "All right!" he said gruffly.

"They're stunning." To prove his assertion he went on eating rapidly without paying any further heed to me, throwing the shells over his head, and ending by screwing the paper up tightly that contained the salt.
Then he sprang up and faced me; took two or three steps in my direction, and made a spring as if to jump right on to me.
Naturally enough I gave way, and he darted out of the shed and dashed down between two rows of trees, to be out of sight directly, for I did not give chase.
"He can talk," I said to myself as I went on down the garden thinking of the snails, and that Shock was something like the wild boy of whom I had once read.
But soon the various objects in the great garden made me forget Shock, for the men were at work, hoeing, digging, and planting, and I was beginning to feel uncomfortable and to think that Old Brownsmith would be annoyed if he found me idle, when he came down one of the walks, followed by his cats, and laid his hand upon my shoulder.
"Better ?" he said abruptly.

"That's right.

What you're to do?
Oh wait a bit, we'll see! Get used to the place first." He gave me a short nod, and began pointing out different tasks that he wished his men to carry out, while I watched attentively, feeling as if I should like to run off and look at the ripening fruit, but not caring to go away, for fear Mr Brownsmith might want me.
One thing was quite evident, and that was that the cats were disposed to be very friendly.