In view of what I once told you on the subject, it's a matter I mean to investigate." She moved away; but it was Ida who first was afforded an opportunity of deciding the question, for a few minutes later Ainslie strolled toward her.

When he sat down beside her, she indicated the waste, of climbing pasture, which ran up, interspersed with gorse bushes and clumps of heather, to the dusky moor.
"Not a sign of cultivation," she said.

"I suppose that grass is never broken up?
How much foundation is there for Mr.Weston's views ?" Ainslie laughed.
"I'm afraid I'm hardly competent to decide, but there are people who agree with him.

Still, I think it's reasonably certain that a good deal of the higher land that now carries a few head of sheep would grow oats and other things.

It's largely a question of economics.
Somebody would have to spend a good deal of money and labor on it first, and the result, which wouldn't be very apparent for two or three years, would be a little uncertain then.