ve it for nothing."

"Perhaps not, but I don't think you would give me my price."

"What is it?"

"Much too cheap. Land is very dear just now, and the prices will
always go up."

"I don't know about that."

"No, but I do, people are very eager to purchase such fine little
plots. This one has all the advantages that it can have,
situation----"

"What do you mean?"

"It's situated just behind your garden; where can you have anything
better."

"The field is well situated for me, but it's not worth anything as
building land to others, it does not border the road," Frank
ventured to remark.

"It's a splendid piece of land," continued the farmer, "light, open
and yet damp soil, just the sort of thing for tomatoes, I fancy I
can see them, as big as my fist----"

"We have not done much business yet."

"I don't know if I shall sell it."

"If that's the case, when will you make up your mind; shall I call
again to-morrow?"

"I hardly know"--scratching his head--"such a fine plot, let me see;
aloud: It's worth a lot of money."

"How much would you require?"

"Oh! I don't know."

"Well, I'll call again this day week," said Frank, tiring of this
useless talk and guessing what the farmer's intentions were. He rose
and added: "I hope you will have made up your mind by then."

Quoth the farmer: "I should be very sorry for you to have had to
come here for nothing, perhaps we may yet come to terms."

"Will you sell it? 'Yes' or 'No,'" said the young man re-seating
himself.

"If you don't mind giving me my price."

"What _is_ your price?"

"Land is very dear. This piece is situated quite close to town, it
ought to fetch top price. There's two and a half vergees to that
field. I have heard that some land has been sold for eight quarters
a vergee."

"I won't give as much for this one; it's twice too much."

"I should require some money."

"How much?"

"At least one hundred pounds."

"Perhaps I might give you as much, but do state the price of the
whole."

"Six quarters a vergee."

"No."

"It would be worth that to you."

"I will give you five quarters."

"It's too low, the field would only amount to two hundred and fifty
pounds."

"Two hundred and fifty pounds for two and a half vergees, that is
about an acre, is, I should think, a very good price."

"That would only make, besides the one hundred pounds cash, seven
and a half pounds per annum. Such a fertile soil. Such a splendid
stream. No