It became evident, however, that there were topics in which he took some interest, when a man who sat near turned to him.
"We were in the meadows by Ghyllfoot this afternoon, and they were looking very sour and rushy," he said.

"They were drained once, weren't they ?" "They were," replied Weston, sharply.

"It's stiff land.

In my father's time, Little used to grow good wheat there.

Still, even tile drains won't last forever.