human
We're getting on, neighbour,
gpt
Ay, but it's slow work, said Tom's father.
human
It'll be years before that lode is cooten.
gpt
Yes, it will be years before it is finished, said the squire,
human
Then, what's the good of us putting our money in it, eh? It'll do us no good, and be robbing our boys.
gpt
Then why don't you leave off, father? said Tom stoutly.
human
Dick Winthorpe and I don't want the fen to be drained, and we don't want to be robbed. Do we, Dick?
gpt
The drain's right, neighbour, he said gravely.
human
Perhaps you and I will reap no great benefit from it; though, if we live, we shall; but instead of leaving to our boys, when they take up our work, neighbour, either because we are called away to our rest or because we have grown old, these farms with so much good land and so much watery bog, we shall leave them acre upon acre of good solid land, that has been useless to us, but which will bear them crops and feed their beasts.
gpt
Yes, said Farmer Tallington,
human
Come, neighbour, look ahead. Every foot that drain comes into the fen it will lower the level, and we shall see--and before long--our farm land grow, and the water sink.
gpt
Ye-es; but it's so like working for other people!
human
Well, said the squire laughing,
gpt
That! Oh, only planted it with pear-trees so as to make a bit of an orchard!
human
Are you going to pick a crop of pears next year, neighbour?
gpt
Next year! Bah! They'll be ten years before they come well into bearing.
human
So will the acres laid bare by the draining, said the squire smiling,
gpt
That's a clincher, said the farmer.
human
You've coot the ground from under me, neighbour, and I wean't grudge the money any more.
gpt
I wish father wouldn't say _coot_ and _wean't_!
human
Why not? What does it matter?
gpt
Sounds so broad. Remember how the doctor switched Bob Robinson for saying he'd been _agate_ early.
human
Yes, I recollect, said Dick, tying a knot to keep the hairs from untwisting;
gpt
Well, for my part, said the squire rather hotly, in reply to some communication his visitor had made,
human
But they seem to think it arn't right, said the farmer.
gpt
Those in the fen say it will ruin them.
human
Ruin! Nonsense! cried the squire.
gpt
They'll have plenty of good land to grow potatoes, and oats, instead of water, which produces them a precarious living from wild-fowl and fish, and ruins no end of them with rheumatism and fever.
human
Yes, but--
gpt
But what, man? The fen-men who don't cultivate the soil are very few compared to those who do, and the case is this. The fen-land is growing about here, and good land being swallowed up by the water. Five acres of my farm, which used to be firm and dry, have in my time become water-logged and useless. Now, are the few to give way to the many, or the many to give way to the few?
human
Well, squire, the few think we ought to give way to them.
gpt
Then we will not, said the squire hotly;
human
Ay, it's their nature, I suppose. All I want is peace and quietness.
gpt
And you'll have it. Let them threaten. The law is on our side. They will not dare.
human
I don't know, said Farmer Tallington, scratching his head as they walked out into the home close.
gpt
You see, squire, it wean't be open enemies we shall have to fear--
human
The Winthorpes never feared their enemies since they settled in these parts in the days of King Alfred,
gpt
Hear, hear, Dick!
human
No more did the Tallingtons,
gpt
Nay, Tom, my lad, said the farmer,
human
Tallingtons was never fighting men. Well, squire, I thought I'd warn you.
gpt
Of course, of course, neighbour. But look here, whoever sent you that cowardly bit of scribble thought that because you lived out here in this lonely place you would be easily frightened. Look here, he continued, taking a scrap of dirty paper out of his old pocket-book;
human
Same man writ both, I should say.
gpt
So should I--a rascal! said the squire.
human
Here, Dick, don't say a word to your mother; it may alarm her.
gpt
No, father, I sha'n't say anything; but--
human
But what? Speak out.
gpt
May I read it--and Tom?
human
Well, yes, you've heard what we've been talking about--what neighbour Tallington came over for.
gpt
Yes, father,