I don't know that it have." The farmer sought Robert's face.
"Best where there's no chance of interruption," Robert counselled, and lifted his hat to the squire.
"Eh?
Well, you see I'm busy." The latter affected a particular indifference, that in such cases, when well acted (as lords of money can do--squires equally with usurers), may be valued at hundreds of pounds in the pocket.

"Can't you put it off?
Come again to-morrow." "To-morrow's a day too late," said the farmer, gravely.

Whereto replying, "Oh! well, come along in, then," the squire led the way.
"You're two to one, if it's a transaction," he said, nodding to Robert to close the library door.

"Take seats.

Now then, what is it?
And if I make a face, just oblige me by thinking nothing about it, for my gout's beginning to settle in the leg again, and shoots like an electric telegraph from purgatory." He wheezed and lowered himself into his arm-chair; but the farmer and Robert remained standing, and the farmer spoke:-- "My words are going to be few, squire.