Part 43 (1/2)

”'Tis a sweet spot!” remarked his uncle, in a low, sad tone, as he entered the open door of the dwelling, and walked deliberately into the drawing-room.

”Now, Ned, sit down--here, opposite that window, where you can see the view--and I'll tell you how we shall manage. You tell me you have 500 pounds?”

”Yes, uncle.”

”Well, your dear mother left you her fortune when she died--it amounts to the small sum of 200 pounds. I never told you of it before, my boy, for reasons of my own. That makes 700 pounds.”

”Will that suffice to stock and carry on so large a farm,” inquired Ned?

”Not quite,” replied Mr s.h.i.+rley, ”but the farm is partly stocked already, so it'll do. Now, I've made arrangements with the proprietor to let you have it for the first year or two rent free. His last tenant's lease happens to have expired six months ago, and he is anxious to have it let immediately.”

Ned opened his eyes very wide at this.

”He says,” continued the old gentleman, ”that if you can't manage to make the two ends meet in the course of a year or two, he will extend the _gratis_ lease.”

Ned began to think his uncle had gone deranged. ”Why, what _do_ you mean,” said he, ”who is this extraordinary proprietor?”

”He's an eccentric old fellow, Ned, who lives in London--they call him s.h.i.+rley, I believe.”

”Yourself, uncle!” cried Ned, starting up.

Dear reader, the conversation that followed was so abrupt, exclamatory, interjectional, and occasionally ungrammatical, as well as absurd, that it could not be reduced to writing. We therefore leave it to your imagination. After a time, the uncle and nephew subsided, and again became sane.

”But,” said Ned, ”I shall have to get a steward--is that what you call him? or overseer, to manage affairs until I am able to do it myself.”

”True, Ned; but I have provided one already.”

”Indeed!--but I might have guessed that. What shall I have to pay him?

a good round sum, I suppose.”

”No,” replied Mr s.h.i.+rley; ”he is very moderate in his expectations. He only expects his food and lodging, besides a little care, and attention, and love, particularly in his old age.”

”He must be a cautious fellow, to look so far forward,” said Ned, laughing. ”What's his name?”

”His name--is s.h.i.+rley.”

”What! yourself again?”

”And why not, nephew? I've as much right to count myself fit to superintend a farm, as you had, a year ago, to think yourself able to manage a gold mine. Nay, I have a better right--for I was a farmer the greater part of my life before I went to reside in London. Now, boy, as I went to live in the Great City--which I _don't_ like--in order to give you a good education, I expect that you'll take me to the country--which I _do_ like--to be your overseer. I was born and bred here, Ned; this was my father's property, and, when I am gone, it shall be yours. It is not much to boast of. You won't be able to spend an idle life of it here; for, although a goodly place, it must be carefully tended if you would make it pay.”

”I don't need to tell _you_,” replied Ned, ”that I have no desire to lead an idle life. But, uncle, I think your terms are very high.”