am's, I think I could manage the rest.
Of course it would depend on the value of my own life."

There was a long pause, during which they both were still leaning on
the gate. "It is a phantom, sir!" the young man said at last.

"What do you mean by a phantom? I don't see any phantom. A reversion
can be bought and sold as well as any other property. And if it be
sold in this case, I am as free to buy it as any other man."

"Who says it is to be sold, sir?"

"I say so. That prig of a barrister, Sir Thomas Underwood, has
already made overtures to me to do something for that young scoundrel
in London. He is a scoundrel, for he is spending money that is not
his own. And he is now about to make a marriage that will disgrace
his family." The Squire probably did not at the moment think of the
disgrace which he had brought upon the family by not marrying. "The
fact is, that he will have to sell all that he can sell. Why should I
not buy it!"

"If he were to die?" suggested the son.

"I wish he would," said the father.

"Don't say that, sir. But if he were to die, Gregory here, who is as
good a fellow as ever lived, would come into his shoes. Ralph could
sell no more than his own chance."

"We could get Gregory to join us," said the energetic Squire. "He,
also, could sell his right."

"You had better leave it as it is, sir," said the son, after another
pause. "I feel sure that you will only get yourself into trouble. The
place is yours as long as you live, and you should enjoy it."

"And know that it is going to the Jews after me! Not if I can help
it. You won't marry, as things are; but you'd marry quick enough if
you knew you would remain here after my death;--if you were sure that
a child of yours could inherit the estate. I mean to try it on, and
it is best that you should know. Whatever he can make over to the
Jews he can make over to me;--and as that is what he is about, I
shall keep my eyes open. I shall go up to London about it and see
Carey next week. A man can do a deal if he sets himself thoroughly to
work."

"I'd leave it alone if I were you," said the young man.

"I shall not leave it alone. I mayn't be able to get it all, but I'll
do my best to secure a part of it. If any is to go, it had better
be the land in Bostock and Twining. I think we could manage to keep
Newton entire."

His mind was always on the subject, though it was not often that he
said a word about it to the son in whose behalf he was