Part 16 (2/2)

As Adam and his party were making their way back to Hurlston, Miles Gaffin, mounted on the powerful horse he usually rode, galloped by apparently not observing the suspicious glances which were cast at him as he pa.s.sed.

”The miller looks as if the foul fiend had got possession of him,”

observed one of the men. ”They say he has had dealings with him for long past.”

”Ay, ay, if it hadn't been for that he would have been in limbo before now for some of the things he has done in his time,” observed another.

”To my mind, mates, Satan lets them go on in their own way without ever showing himself to them; and as to helping them out of danger, depend on it he would leave them to perish soon enough if he had the power over them,” observed Adam. ”There is another more powerful than him who looks after human beings; and not one of us, good or bad, can leave this world without He thinks fit. Its only when He knows that the cup of their iniquities is full that He allows even the worst to perish.”

Sir Ralph remained some time at Texford after his uncle's death, giving directions for certain repairs and alterations which he wished to have executed immediately.

Sir Ralph had summoned Mr Grooc.o.c.k to the library, a fine old wainscotted room, with bookcases against two of the walls, while over and on either side of the fireplace were hung family portraits. Sir Reginald was there, occupying the centre position, with those of his younger brother, Mr Herbert Castleton, with his wife and their two children, the long lost Ra.n.a.ld, and their daughter Ellen, hers executed when she had just reached her sixteenth summer, and Ra.n.a.ld when he was about nineteen. The features of Ellen fully bore out the description which Dame Halliburt had given of her beauty.

Sir Ralph was seated with his legs crossed and his arm resting on the table when the steward entered. Sir Reginald would have desired him to sit down and welcomed him with a kind smile, and enquired after his health. Sir Ralph allowed the old man to stand before him while he issued his directions.

The house was to be freshly painted, and the furniture for some of the best rooms sent down from London.

”I purpose making Texford my summer and winter residence when my political duties do not require my attendance in London,” he observed to Mr Grooc.o.c.k.

Sir Ralph had sat in parliament for a close borough for the last three years, and he had let it be known that he intended to stand for the county at the next general election.

”Hurry on with the work, Mr Grooc.o.c.k, for Lady Castleton wishes to come down as soon as possible.”

The steward promised to see that his master's orders were executed to the best of his ability.

”But you see, Sir Ralph,” he observed, ”workmen are often dilatory, and we cannot always depend upon their doing what they promise.”

”They will do the work if you keep a watchful eye on them, Mr Grooc.o.c.k,” answered the baronet. ”I am not accustomed to have difficulties raised when I give orders. My late uncle has been somewhat over-indulgent, I suspect. You will get all the rent paid up and proceed against defaulters, according to the power the law affords you.

I desire to have no injustice done to anyone, but I suspect that the rents of several of the tenants ought to be raised. You will give them notice that they must expect it.”

”I will act as you desire, Sir Ralph, but I venture to observe that it may be a hards.h.i.+p to some of them if we act according to the strict letter of the law. The tenant may, from unforeseen circ.u.mstances, have got into difficulties, or he may have expended a considerable amount on his farm, and thus increased its value, or he may have a large family, and find it a hard matter to make the two ends meet, or he himself, or his wife or children, may have been suffering from sickness. In such cases Sir Reginald was wont to give me discretionary power, and was always more inclined to lower than raise the rent of a farm.”

”I do not consider myself bound to be guided by what my uncle, an old bachelor without ambition or any other aim in life beyond enjoying existence, might have thought fit to do,” answered Sir Ralph in an angry tone. ”You will see that my directions are carried out.”

Mr Grooc.o.c.k bowed, and tried to suppress the sigh which he found rising from his bosom.

”If Sir Ralph wishes to stand for the county he will find his object defeated by these proceedings. My dear old master would have grieved if he had known the changes likely to be made, but I must obey orders--I must obey orders,” he thought to himself.

Having received his final directions, Mr Grooc.o.c.k bowed and retired from the room.

Sir Ralph went back to London. The steward felt relieved at his absence, though he had many unpleasant duties to perform.

He spoke in consequence of the directions he had received to the tenants, and naturally tried to exonerate himself from the suspicion that he had advised the proceedings he was compelled to carry out, yet he gained more ill-will than he had ever before experienced since he became steward of Texford. The miller of Hurlston, whose rent had been, however, very small, was among the most indignant at receiving notice that it was to be raised considerably should he wish to renew the lease as he had the option of doing. He rode over to Texford to expostulate.

”Very well, Mr Gaffin, you can give up the mill if you wish,” observed the steward, who would have been glad to get rid of a person whose character he had reason to suspect was none of the best.

”That may not be convenient, and it is very hard to have the rent raised on me after I have been working for years to bring a trade to the mill,”

answered the miller. ”I'll not give it up, however, and you can tell your master that I'll pay the rent he demands.”

<script>