Awfully dry work he found it; not in the least congenial; and many a time did he long to pitch the whole lot into the pleasant rippling stream, running through the grounds of Sir Rufus Hautley, which danced and glittered in the sun in view of Lionel's window.
He could not remain at his daily study without interruptions.

They were pretty frequent.

People--tenants, workmen, and others--would persist in coming for orders to Mr.Lionel.In vain Lionel told them that he could not give orders, could not interfere; that he had no longer anything to do with Verner's Pride.

They could not be brought to understand why he was not their master as usual--at any rate, why he could not act as one, and interpose between them and the tyrant, Roy.

In point of fact, Mr.
Roy was head and master of the estate just now, and a nice head and master he made! Mrs.Verner, shut up in Verner's Pride with her ill health, had no conception what games were being played.