more additions.

laravel/db/connection.php

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class Connection {
 	 *
 	 * @var Connector
 	 */
-	protected $connector;
+	private $connector;
 
 	/**
 	 * Create a new Connection instance.
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class Connection {
 	 *
 	 * @return void
 	 */
-	protected function connect()
+	public function connect()
 	{
 		$this->pdo = $this->connector->connect($this->config);
 	}
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class Connection {
 	 *
 	 * @return bool
 	 */
-	protected function connected()
+	public function connected()
 	{
 		return ! is_null($this->pdo);
 	}
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ class Connection {
 	 * @param  array         $results
 	 * @return mixed
 	 */
-	protected function execute(\PDOStatement $statement, $bindings)
+	private function execute(\PDOStatement $statement, $bindings)
 	{
 		$result = $statement->execute($bindings);
 

laravel/db/query.php

@@ -471,7 +471,13 @@ class Query {
 	{
 		$this->select = 'SELECT '.$aggregator.'('.$this->wrap($column).') AS '.$this->wrap('aggregate');
 
-		return $this->first()->aggregate;
+		$result = $this->connection->scalar($this->compile_select(), $this->bindings);
+
+		// Reset the SELECT clause so more queries can be performed using the same instance.
+		// This is helpful for getting aggregates and then getting actual results.
+		$this->select = null;
+
+		return $result;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -656,10 +662,7 @@ class Query {
 	 *
 	 * @return string
 	 */
-	protected function wrapper()
-	{
-		return '"';
-	}
+	protected function wrapper() { return '"'; }
 
 	/**
 	 * Create query parameters from an array of values.