and women of the colony stood
idly before their houses, discussing prospects, asking each other
whether it was seriously Mr. Eldon's intention to raze New Wanley, many
of them grumbling or giving vent to revolutionary threats. They had
continued in work thus long since the property in fact changed hands,
and to most of them it seemed unlikely, in spite of every thing, that
they would have to go in search of new employments. This morning they
would hear finally.

The valley rested. For several days there had been constant rain; though
summer was scarcely over, it had turned cold and the sky was cheerless.
Over Stanbury Hill there were always heavy, dripping clouds, and the
leaves of Adela's favourite wood were already falling. At the Manor
there was once more disorder; before Mutimer and his wife took their
departure the removal of furniture had commenced. Over the whole scene
brooded a spirit of melancholy. It needed faith in human energy to
imagine the pollutions swept away, and the seasons peacefully gliding as
of old between the hillsides and amid meadows and garden closes.

Hubert Eldon drove over from Agworth, and was in the Public Hall at the
appointed time. His business with the men was simple and brief. He had
to inform them that their employment here was at an end, but that
each one would receive a month's wages and permission to inhabit their
present abodes for yet a fortnight. After that they had no longer
right of tenancy. He added that if any man considered himself specially
aggrieved by this arrangement, he was prepared to hear and judge the
individual case.

There was a murmur of discontent through the room, but no one took upon
himself to rise and become spokesman of the community. Disregarding the
manifestation, Hubert described in a few words how and when this final
business would be transacted; then he left the hall by the door which
led from the platform.

Then followed a busy week. Claims of all kinds were addressed to him,
some reasonable, most of them not to be entertained. Mr. Yottle was
constantly at the Manor; there he and Hubert held a kind of court.
Hubert was not well fitted for business of this nature; he easily became
impatient, and, in spite of humane intentions, often suffered from a
tumult of his blood, when opposed by some dogged mechanic.

'I can't help it!' he exclaimed to Mr. Wyvern one right, after a day
of peculiar annoyance. 'We are all men, it is true; but for the
brotherh