My poor old father! Well, it is a hard world, and I think that sleep
is about the best thing in it."
And with a sigh she lighted her candle to go to bed, then changed her
mind and sat down to await her father's return.
CHAPTER V
THE SQUIRE EXPLAINS THE POSITION
"I don't know what is coming to this country, I really don't; and
that's a fact," said the Squire to his companion, after they had
walked some paces in silence. "Here is the farm, the Moat Farm. It
fetched twenty-five shillings an acre when I was a young man, and
eight years ago it used to fetch thirty-five. Now I have reduced it
and reduced it to fifteen, just in order to keep the tenant. And what
is the end of it? Janter--he's the tenant--gave notice last
Michaelmas; but that stupid owl, George, said it was all nothing, and
that he would continue at fifteen shillings when the time came. And
now to-night he comes to me with a face as long as a yard-arm, and
says that Janter won't keep it at any price, and that he does not know
where he is to find another tenant, not he. It's quite heartbreaking,
that's what it is. Three hundred acres of good, sound, food-producing
land, and no tenant for it at fifteen shillings an acre. What am I to
do?"
"Can't you take it in hand and farm it yourself?" asked Harold.
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