CHAPTER SEVEN.
THE FEN-MAN'S WAGES.
Dave did not keep his promise the next day, nor the next; but Dick Winthorpe had his attention taken up by other matters, for a party of men arrived and stopped with their leaders at the Toft, where they were refreshed with ale and bread and cheese, previous to continuing their journey down to the seaside.
The squire and Farmer Tallington accompanied them down to their quarters, which were to be at a disused farm-house close to the mouth of the little river; and incidentally Dick learned that this was the first party of labourers who were to cut the new lode or drain from near the river mouth right across the fen; that there was to be a lock with gates at the river end, to let the drain-water out at low tide, and that the banks of the drain were to be raised so as to protect the land at the sides from being flooded.
Fen people from far and wide collected to see the gang, and to watch the surveyors, who, with measuring chain and staves and instruments, busied themselves marking out the direction in which the men were to cut; and these fen people shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders, while more than once, when Squire Winthorpe addressed one or the other, Dick noticed that they were always surly, and that some turned away without making any answer.
"Never mind, Dick," said the squire laughing.

"Some day when we've given them smiling pastures and corn-fields, instead of water and bog and ague, they will be ashamed of themselves." "But--" "Well, but what, sir ?" said the squire as the lad hesitated.
"I was only going to say, father, isn't it a pity to spoil the fen ?" The squire did not answer for a few moments, but stood frowning.

The severe look passed off directly though, and he smiled.
"Dick," he said gravely, "all those years at a good school, to come back as full of ignorance and prejudice as the fen-men! Shame!" He walked away, leaving Dick with his companion Tom Tallington.
"I say," said the latter, "you caught it." "Well, I can't help it," said Dick, who felt irritated and ashamed.

"It does seem a pity to spoil all the beautiful pools and fishing places, and instead of having beds of reeds full of birds, for there to be nothing but fields and a great ugly drain.

Why, the flowers, and butterflies, and nesting places will all be swept away.