Faversham shrugged his shoulders.
"I feel horribly nervous!"
"Well you may!" laughed Tatham. "Never mind. We'll all back you up, if
you'll let us."
"As far as I am concerned--the smallest contributions thankfully
received. Who are these people here?"
Tatham introduced him.
Then to Lydia:
"Delorme is waiting for you." He carried her off.
By this time Mr. Andover, the old grizzled squire who had been Lydia's
partner at dinner the night before, had dropped in, and various other
residents from the neighbourhood. They gathered eagerly round Faversham,
in the deep shade of the yews.
And before long, the new man had produced an excellent first impression
upon these country gentlemen who were now to be his neighbours. It was
evident that he was anxious to remove grievances. His tone as to his
employer was guarded, but not at all servile; and he made the impression
of a man of ability accustomed to business, though modestly avowing his
ignorance of rural affairs; independent, yet anxious to do his best with
a great trust.
After half an hour's discussion, Barton drew Victoria aside, and said to
her excitedly that the new agent was "a capital fellow!"
"He'll do the job, you'll see! Melrose is breaking up--thank God! Every
one who's seen him lately says he's not half the man he was. He'll have
to give this fellow a free hand. That estate has been a plague-spot!
But we'll get it cleared up now."
Victoria wondered. Secretly, she doubted the power of any man to manage
Melrose even _moriturus_.
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