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The gardener was right The fight was a lesson for the boys, who kept

at a distance fro the next few days, while our scratches and

bruises grew faint and began to heal

We had expected they would have been off to school; but for some reason,

illness I believe, the holidays were extended for a month, and so they

stayed, but I was pretty well left in peace

My first hint of Sir Francis' return was given by that gentleman

himself, who came upon me suddenly as I was busy in the peach-house I

was painting away at the branches that had becoht, when I heard a sharp quick step behind me, and

my heart quailed, for I felt that it was Sir Francis about to take me to

task for my encounter with his sons

I kept busily on with ht pass , but he stopped short, and looked on as I busied myself

with my brush and the poisonous decoction that was to kill the insects

I was in agony, for I felt that he was looking ave quite a jump

"Hah!" he exclaimed, "rather hard upon the insects Well, Grant, how

are you getting on?"

"Very well, Sir Francis, I think," I said

"Seen any

"Climbed up the wall, has he?"

"I don't know, Sir Francis," I replied; "but he has got into the garden