y for my interests."

"But we consider the farm-house, the stacks, and the buildings,
picturesque objects in the distance, and we could not desire to have
near us more respectable, worthy people than the Hargraves," urged Lady
Elverston.

"He is an obstinate fellow, and a Republican at heart, and will to a
certainty vote against our son, should John stand for the next
Parliament," answered the marquis. "However, I promise you I will act
with perfect justice; but you could not wish me to submit to the
insolence of a fellow of his description."

Poor Lady Elverston, though not convinced that her husband was right,
was unable to say anything more. She saw that he had been strongly
biased against the farmer, and she was naturally displeased with the way
his son had behaved to Lord Reginald. Her compassionate feelings for
Janet, however, were not altered. In the afternoon, accompanied by Lady
Julia, she took a drive in her pony carriage. In passing Farmer
Hargrave's house she stopped to see Janet, wishing also to ascertain the
reason for the objection Mr Hargrave had to giving up his farm, and
hoping to induce him to yield with a good grace to the wishes of the
marquis.

The ladies found Janet and her mother seated in the parlour. A smile
played over the countenance of the blind girl when she heard the voice
of the marchioness.

"Very kind, my lady, very kind in you to come and see us, and mother
wants so much to talk to your ladyship about the matter of the farm,"
she said, after the ordinary inquiries had been made and answered.

Lady Elverston was glad of this opportunity of entering on the subject,
and she begged to hear what Mrs Hargrave had to say.

"My husband, my lady, doesn't desire to oppose the wishes of the
marquis, but as every Englishman should--as your ladyship will agree--he
stands on his rights, and as he has a long lease of this property, which
his fathers for many generations held before him, he refuses to be
compelled to give it up. You see, my lady, Mr Gooch has been here and
threatened that the law will force him if he refuses, and when my good
man told him that the law could not compel him, the bailiff said that he
would bring up our son Richard before the justices for threatening to
shoot Lord Reginald, which I cannot believe he ever did, even though he
was vexed at his lordship killing his dog. My husband, my lady, is a
determined man, and neither I nor any one else can induce him to