"
"Three men, four, if you want them. You cannot have too many sickles.
Cut wheat while the sun shines. Eh? What? How is the lady at Up-Hill?"
"Mother is middling well, I'm obliged to you. I think she has failed
though, since grandfather died."
"It is likely. She has been too much by herself. You should stay at
home, Stephen Latrigg. A man's duty is more often there than anywhere
else. Eh?"
"I think you are right now, squire." And then he blundered into the very
statement that he ought to have let alone. "And I am not going to build
the mill, squire,--not yet, at least. I would not do any thing to annoy
you for the world."
The information was pleasant to Sandal; but he had already heard it, in
its least offensive way, through Ducie and Charlotte. Steve's broad
relinquishment demanded some acknowledgment, and appeared to put him
under an obligation which he did not feel he had any right to
acknowledge. He considered the building of a mill so near his own
property a great social wrong, and why should he thank Stephen Latrigg
for not committing it?
So he answered coldly, "You must take your own way, Stephen. I am an old
man. I have had my say in my generation, maybe I haven't any right to
meddle with yours. New men, new times." Then being conscious that he
was a little ungenerous he walked off to Mrs. Sandal, and left the
lovers together. Steve would have forgiven the squire a great deal more
for such an opportunity, especially as a still kinder after-thought
followed it.
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