"Ask fifty! What do I care ?" "How many boys are there in your family ?" "There are seven," said Kate, "and if you want to use them as a basis for a land estimate add two hundred and fifty for the home place.
Sixteen hundred and fifty is what Father pays tax on, besides the numerous mortgages and investments.

He's the richest man in the county we live in; at least he pays the most taxes." Mother and son looked at each other in silence.

They had been thinking her so poor that she would be bewildered by what they had to offer.
But if two hundred acres of land were her desire, there was a possibility that she was a women who was not asking either ease or luxury of life, and would refuse it if it were proffered.
"I hope you will take me home with you, and let me see all that land, and how it is handled," said John Jardine.

"I don't own an acre.

I never even have thought of it, but there is no reason why I, or any member of my family shouldn't have all the land they want.