if not before, upon him, whose fathers had been
tenants of Alfy Vale even before the Alisons came to Arghouse; and,
with the rude obstinacy of his race, he was as uncivil to Harold as he
durst in Eustace's presence. "He had no mind to have his fields cut up
just to sell the young gentleman's drain-pipes, as wouldn't go off at
them potteries."

"Well, but all this stuff would be doing much more good upon your
fields than here," Eustace said. "I--I really must insist on this
farmyard being cleansed."

"You'll not find that in the covenant, sir," said the farmer with a
grin.

"But, father," began the son, a more intelligent-looking man, though
with the prevailing sickly tint.

"Hold your tongue, Phil," said Ogden. "It's easy to talk of cleaning
out the yard; I'd like to see the gentleman set about it, or you
either, for that matter."

"Would you?" said Harold. "Then you shall."

Farmer Ogden gaped. "I won't have no strange labourers about the
place."

"No more you shall," said Harold. "If your son and I clean out this
place with our own hands in the course of a couple of days, putting the
manure in any field you may appoint, will you let the drainage plans be
carried out without opposition?"

"It ain't a bet?" said the farmer; "for my missus's conscience is
against bets."

"No, certainly not."

"Nor a trick?" he said, looking from one to another.

"No. It is to be honest work. I am a farmer, and know what work is,
and have done it too."

Farmer Ogden, to a certain extent, gave in, and we departed. His son
held the gate open for us, with a keen look at Harold, full of wonder
and inquiry.

"You'll stand by me?" said Harold, lingering with him.

"Yes, sir," said Phil Ogden; "but I doubt if we can do it. Father says
it is a week's work for five men, if you could get them to do it."

"Never fear," said Harold. "We'll save your mother's life yet against
her will, and make you all as healthy as if you'd been born in New
South Wales."

This was Friday, and Phil had an engagement on the Monday, so that
Tuesday was fixed, much to Eustace's displeasure, for he did not like
Harold's condescending to work which labourers would hardly undertake;
and besides, he would make his hands, if not himself, absolutely unfit
for the entertainment on Thursday. On which Harold asked if there were
no such thing as water. Eustace implored him to give it up and send
half-a-dozen unemployed men, but to this he answe