He did his duty thoroughly.

Every penny was got out of the estate that could be got, and every penny was saved.
First, the rents were raised to the modern standard, many of them not having been increased for years.

Then the tenants were in effect ordered to farm to the highest pitch, and to improve the soil itself by liberal investment.

Buildings, drains, and so forth were provided for them; they only had to pay a small percentage upon the money expended in construction.

In this there was nothing that could be complained of; but the hard, mechanical, unbending spirit in which it was done--the absence of all kind of sympathy--caused a certain amount of discontent.