e the farmer generally over-reaches us, if he draws the lease, is in
the clauses that protect him on leaving. He gets part possession for
months without paying rent, and he hampers and fleeces the incoming
tenant, so that you lose a year's rent or have to buy him out. Now, let
me see, that will be at the end of the document--No; it is exceedingly
fair, this one."

"Show it to our man of business, and let him study every line. Set an
attorney to catch an attorney."

"Of course I shall submit it to our solicitor," said Walter.

This was done, and the experienced practitioner read it very carefully.
He pronounced it unusually equitable for a farmer's lease.

"However," said he, "we might suggest that he does _all_ the repairs and
draining, and that you find the materials; and also that he insures all
the farm buildings. But you can hardly stand out for the insurance if he
objects. There's no harm trying. Stay! here is one clause that is
unusual: the tenant is to have the right to bore for water, or to
penetrate the surface of the soil, and take out gravel or chalk or
minerals, if any. I don't like that clause. He might quarry, and cut the
farm in pieces. Ah, there's a proviso, that any damage to the surface or
the agricultural value shall be fully compensated, the amount of such
injury to be settled by the landlord's valuer or surveyor. Oh, come, if
you can charge your own price, that can't kill you."

In short, the draft was approved, subject to certain corrections. These
were accepted. The lease was engrossed in duplicate, and in due course
signed and delivered. The old tenant left, abusing the Cliffords, and
saying it was unfair to bring in a stranger, for _he_ would have given
all the money.

Bartley took possession.

Walter welcomed Hope very warmly, and often came to see him. He took a
great interest in Hope's theories of farming, and often came to the farm
for lessons. But that interest was very much increased by the
opportunities it gave him of seeing and talking to sweet Mary Bartley.
Not that he was forward or indiscreet. She was not yet sixteen, and he
tried to remember she was a child.

Unfortunately for that theory she looked a ripe woman, and this very
Walter made her more and more womanly. Whenever Walter was near she had
new timidity, new blushes, fewer gushes, less impetuosity, more reserve.
Sweet innocent! She was set by Nature to catch the man by the surest way,
though she had no such design.