"They'll have plenty of good land to grow potatoes, and oats, instead of water, which produces them a precarious living from wild-fowl and fish, and ruins no end of them with rheumatism and fever." "Yes, but--" "But what, man?
The fen-men who don't cultivate the soil are very few compared to those who do, and the case is this.

The fen-land is growing about here, and good land being swallowed up by the water.

Five acres of my farm, which used to be firm and dry, have in my time become water-logged and useless.

Now, are the few to give way to the many, or the many to give way to the few ?" "Well, squire, the few think we ought to give way to them." "Then we will not," said the squire hotly; "and if they don't know what's for their good, they must be taught.

You know how they will stick to old things and refuse to see how they can be improved." "Ay, it's their nature, I suppose.