rather fun to have a couple of boys, even dull boys
like the Traceys, in the house. She had told Considine that she would
like the arrangement if only the Rectory were bigger. As it was they
couldn't possibly entertain the proposal.

This set Considine thinking, and from his deliberations emerged the
much more ambitious scheme of taking over Lapton Manor, and equipping
it as a special school for the education of really expensive boys. He
decided that he would not take a greater number than he could educate
by himself. His pupils must all be well-connected or wealthy. He
would teach them not only the things with which a public school might
reasonably be expected to equip them, but the whole duty of a landed
proprietor. The neglected Manor lands, already a drag on the Halberton
property, should be his example. His pupils should see it recover
gradually with their own eyes. The fees they paid should go to its
development, and provide at the end of three or four years' work the
satisfaction of a model and profitable estate.

All Considine's heart was in the plan. He loved teaching, and he loved
the land. He had a natural aptitude for both, and the opportunity of
developing them seemed too good to be missed. Lord Halberton agreed.
A lease was signed in which Considine, paying a nominal rent for Lapton
Manor, undertook to restore the lands and house to the condition from
which they had fallen. Both landlord and tenant were delighted with
their bargain. In six weeks the Rectory had been vacated and relet to
an old lady from the north of England who wanted to die in Devonshire,
and the Considines had moved to the Manor, under the benignant eyes of
Lady Halberton. In another fortnight the first pupils, the Tracey
boys, arrived, and Considine was advertising in _The Morning Post_ and
_The Times_ for three at fees that even Lord Halberton considered
outrageous. "There's plenty of money in the country," said Considine.
With the insight of genius he added to his advertisement, "Special care
is given to backward or difficult pupils."

XI

When Mrs. Payne had the good luck to stumble on Considine's
advertisement--for, in spite of the strange complications that ensued
for the Considines the occasion was certainly fortunate for her--that
remarkable person was at her wits' ends. If she had not been a woman
of resource and character as well as a devoted mother I think she would
have given up the problem of Arthur