"You always had a fancy for playing
the squire, you know."
"A great fancy for a little room, rather," replied her husband--"not
much, I fear, for the duties of a squire. I know little of them; and
happily we shall not be dependent on the result of my management. There
is money as well, I am glad to say--enough to keep the place up anyhow."
"It would be a poor property," replied his wife with a smile, that could
not keep itself up. I have no doubt you will develop into a model farmer
and landlord."
"You must take the business part--at least till Corney is fit to look
after it," he returned.
But his wife's main thought was what influence would the change have on
the prospects of Hester. In her heart she abjured the notion of property
having anything to do with marriage--yet this was almost her first
thought! Inside us are played more fantastic tricks than any we play in
the face of the world.
"Are the children to be told?" she asked.
"I suppose so. It would be a shame not to let them share in our
gladness. And yet one hates to think of their talking about it as
children will."
"I am not afraid of the children," returned his wife.
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