"I cannot bear this
sort of thing any longer. I see that abominable man, Mr. Quest,
continually hovering about here like a bird of ill-omen, and I cannot
bear it; and I tell you what it is, father, if you don't tell me the
whole truth at once I shall cry," and she looked as though she meant
it.
Now the old Squire was no more impervious to a woman's tears than any
other man, and of all Ida's moods, and they were many, he most greatly
feared that rare one which took the form of tears. Besides, he loved
his only daughter more dearly than anything in the world except one
thing, Honham Castle, and could not bear to give her pain.
"Very well," he said, "of course if you wish to know about these
things you have a right to. I have desired to spare you trouble, that
is all; but as you are so very imperious, the best thing that I can do
is to let you have your own way. Still, as it is rather late, if you
have no objection I think that I had better put if off till
to-morrow."
"No, no, father. By to-morrow you will have changed your mind. Let us
have it now. I want to know how much we really owe, and what we have
got to live on."
The old gentleman hummed and hawed a little, and after various
indications of impatience at last began:
"Well, as you know, our family has for some generations depended upon
the land.
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