And it's many's the time I wrote your father them same words." "It is surely not unnatural for owners to expect to be paid for the use of houses and land, is it?
We expect it in England," said Kingsnorth drily.
"In England the landlord usually lives on his estate and takes some pride in it." "Small pride anyone could take in such an estate as this," Kingsnorth laughed bitterly.

Then he went on: "And as for living on it--," and he shrugged his shoulders in disgust.

"Before the Kingsnorths came into possession the MacMahons lived on it, and proud the people were of them and they of the people, sir." "I wish to God they'd continued to," said Kingsnorth wrathfully.
"They beggared themselves for the people--that's what they did, sir.
Improvements here--a road there.

A quarry cut to give men work and a breakwater built to keep the sea from washing away the poor fishermen's homes.

And when famine came not a penny rent asked--and their women-kind feedin' and nursin' the starvin' and the sick.