rs. It's a thirst that
destroys a man. To want to be rich is bad enough--to want to be rich
_quick_ is death and damnation ..."

There was silence again, till suddenly Boden addressed Colonel Barton,
who was sitting opposite half asleep in the sun.

"I say, what's the name of a village, about two miles from here, I walked
through while you were all at church this morning?--the most God-forsaken
place I ever saw!--a horrible, insanitary hole!"

"Mainstairs!" said Barton, promptly, waking up. "That's the only village
hereabout that fits the description. But Melrose owns two or three of
them."

"The man that owns that village ought to be hung," said Boden with quiet
ferocity. "In any decent state of society he would be hung."

Barton shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm on the sanitary authority. We've summoned him till we're tired, to
put those cottages in repair. No use. Now, we've told him that we shall
repair them ourselves and send in the bill to him. That's stirred him,
and he's immediately given everybody notice to quit--says he'll close the
whole village. But the people won't go. There are no other cottages for
miles--they've taken to stoning our inspectors."

"And you think our land system's going to last on these terms?" said
Boden, his eyes flaming.

The little Tory opposite drew himself up.

"It's not the system--it's the man."

"The system's judged--that permits the man."

"Melrose is unique," said Barton, hotly; "we are a model county, but for
the Melrose estate."

"But the exception is damning! It compromises you all. That such a place
as Mainstairs should be _possible_--that's the point!"

"For you Socialists, I daresay!" cried Barton. "The rest of us know
better than to expect a perfect world!"

Boden laughed, the passion dying from his face.

"Ah, well, we shall have to make you march--you fellows in possession. No
hope--unless we are 'behind you with a bradawl!'"

"On the contrary! We marched before you Socialists were thought of. Who
have put the bulk of the cottages of England in repair during the last
half century, I should like to know--and built most of the new ones? The
landlords of England! Who stands in the way of reform at the present
moment? The small owner. And who are the small owners? Mainly Radical
tradesmen."

Boden looked at him--then queerly smiled. "I daresay. I trust no
man--further than I can see him. But if what you say is true, why don't
you Conservatives--in your own