CHAPTER XXIV

s,floweringplum-trees,andallthetangiblejoysofspring. Henry,afterallayingheragitation,hadtakenheroverhisproperty,andhadexplainedtohertheuseanddimensionsofthevariousrooms.Hehadsketchedthehistoryofthelittleestate.“Itissounlucky,”ranthemonologue,“thatmoneywasn’tputintoitaboutfiftyyearsago.Thenithadfour—five—timestheland—thirtyacresatleast.Onecouldhavemadesomethingoutofitthen—asmallpark,oratalleventsshrubberies,andrebuiltthehousefartherawayfromtheroad.What’sthegoodoftakingitinhandnow?Nothingbutthemeadowleft,andeventhatwasheavilymortgagedwhenIfirsthadtodowiththings—yes,andthehousetoo.Oh,itwasnojoke.”Shesawtwowomenashespoke,oneold,theotheryoung,watchingtheirinheritancemeltaway.Shesawthemgreethimasadeliverer.“Mismanagementdidit—besides,thedaysforsmallfarmsareover.Itdoesn’tpay—exceptwithintensivecultivation.Smallholdings,backtotheland—ah!philanthropicbunkum.Takeitasarulethatnothingpaysonasmallscale.Mostofthelandyousee(theywerestandingatanupperwindow,theonlyonewhichfacedwest)belongstothepeopleatthePark—theymadetheirpileovercopper—goodchaps.Avery’sFarm,Sishe’s—whattheycalltheCommon,whereyouseethatruinedoak—oneaftertheotherfellin,andsodidthis,asnearasisnomatter.”ButHenryhadsaveditasnearasisnomatter,withoutfinefeelingsordeepinsight,buthehadsavedit,andshelovedhimforthedeed.“WhenIhadmorecontrolIdidwhatIcould—soldoffthetwoandahalfanimals,andthemangypony,andthesuperannuatedtoolspulleddowntheoutho