e at the mercy of one of
the tribe.

'Mr. Elsmere,' he broke out at last with contemptuous emphasis, 'I
imagine it would have been better--infinitely better--to have spared
both yourself and me the disagreeables of this interview. However, I am
not sorry we should understand each other. I have lived a life which is
at least double the length of yours in very tolerable peace and comfort.
The world has been good enough for me, and I for it, so far. I have been
master in my own estate, and intend to remain so. As for the new-fangled
ideas of a landowner's duty, with which your mind seems to be full'--the
scornful irritation of the tone was unmistakable--'I have never dabbled
in them, nor do I intend to begin now. I am like the rest of my kind; I
have no money to chuck away in building schemes, in order that the
rector of the parish may pose as the apostle of the agricultural
labourer. That, however, is neither here nor there. What is to the
purpose is, that my business affairs are in the hands of a business man,
deliberately chosen and approved by me, and that I have nothing to do
with them. Nothing at all!' he repeated with emphasis. 'It may seem to
you very shocking. You may regard it as the object in life of the
English landowner to inspect the pigstyes and amend the habits of the
English labourer. I don't quarrel with the conception, I only ask you
not to expect me to live up to it. I am a student first and foremost,
and desire to be left to my books. Mr. Henslowe is there on purpose to
protect my literary freedom. What he thinks desirable is good enough for
me, as I have already informed you. I am sorry for it if his methods do
not commend themselves to you. But I have yet to learn that the rector
of the parish has an ex-officio right to interfere between a landlord
and his tenants.'

Robert kept his temper with some difficulty. After a pause he said,
feeling desperately, however, that the suggestion was not likely to
improve matters,--

'If I were to take all the trouble and all the expense off your hands,
Mr. Wendover, would it be impossible for you to authorise me to make one
or two alterations most urgently necessary for the improvement of the
Mile End cottages?'

The squire burst into an angry laugh.

'I have never yet been in the habit, Mr. Elsmere, of doing my repairs by
public subscription. You ask a little too much from an old man's powers
of adaptation.'

Robert rose from his seat, his hand trembling