It has revealed to me that I am no longer so young as
I was, or so capable--apparently--of entertaining myself. At any rate
your company--I put it quite frankly--instead of being a nuisance--has
been a godsend. It has turned out that we have many of the same tastes;
and your inheritance of the treasures collected by my old friend
Mackworth"--("Ah!" thought Faversham, "now we come to it!")--"has made
from the first, I think, a link between us. Have I your assent?"
"Certainly."
Melrose paused a moment, and then resumed. The impression he made was
that of one rehearsing, point by point, a prepared speech.
"At the same time, I have become more aware than usual of the worries and
annoyances connected with the management of my estates. We live, sir, in
a world of robbers"--Melrose suddenly rounded on his companion, his
withered face aflame--"a world of robbers, and of rapine! Not a single
Tom, Dick, and Harry in these parts that doesn't think himself my equal
and more. Not a single tenant on my estate that doesn't try at every
point to take advantage of his landlord! Not a single tramp or poacher
that doesn't covet my goods--that wouldn't murder me if he could, and
sleep like a baby afterward. I tell you, sir, we shall see a _jacquerie_
in England, before we are through with these ideas that are now about
us like the plague; that every child imbibes from our abominable
press!--that our fools of clergy--our bishops even--are not ashamed to
preach.
Pages:
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200