Whether he had become dulled and deadened and cared nothing, whether hope was extinct, or he could not wrench himself from the old place, he said nothing.

Even then some further time elapsed--so slow is the farmer's fall that he might almost be excused for thinking that it would never come.

But now came the news that the old uncle who had 'backed' him at the bank had been found dead in bed of sheer old age.

Then the long-kept secret came out at last.
The dead man's executors claimed the money advanced so many, many years ago.
This discovery finished it.

The neighbours soon had food for gossip in the fact that a load of hay which he had sold was met in the road by the landlord's agent and turned back.