Hodge and His Masters eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 465 pages of information about Hodge and His Masters.

Hodge and His Masters eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 465 pages of information about Hodge and His Masters.

Thus, by degrees, the young squire’s mansion and estate added to his reputation.  The labour which all this represented was immense.  Both the squire and his wife worked harder than a merchant in his office.  Attending Boards and farmers’ clubs, making speeches, carrying on correspondence, looking after the estate, discharging social duties, filled up every moment of his time.  Superintending the house, the garden, corresponding, and a hundred other labours, filled up every moment of hers.  They were never idle; to rise socially and politically requires as great or greater work than for a poor man to achieve a fortune.

Ultimately the desired result began to be apparent.  There grew up a general feeling that the squire was the best man for the place in Parliament which, in the course of events, must ere long be vacant.  There was much heartburning and jealousy secretly felt among men twice his age, who had waited and hoped for years for such an opening, till at last they had rusted and become incapable of effort.  But, cynical as they might be in private, they were too wise to go openly against the stream.  A few friendly words spoken in season by a great man whose goodwill had been gained decided the matter.  At an informal meeting of the party—­how much more is effected at informal than at formal assemblies!—­Marthorne was introduced as the successor to the then representative.  The young squire’s estate could not, of course, bear the heavy pecuniary strain which must arise; but before those who had the control of these things finally selected him they had ascertained that there would be no difficulty with respect to money.  Marthorne’s old friend and mentor, the wealthy Vice-Chairman of the Petty Sessions, who had inducted him into the county business, announced that he should bear the larger part of the expense.  He was not a little proud of his protege.

The same old friend and mentor, wise with the knowledge and experience which long observation of men had given him, advised the young squire what to do when the depression first came upon agriculture.  The old man said, ’Meet it; very likely it will not last two years.  What is that in the life of an estate?’ So the young squire met it, and announced at once that he should return a percentage of his rents.  ‘But not too high a percentage,’ said the old man; ’let us ascertain what the rest of the landowners think, else by a too liberal reduction you may seem to cast a reflection upon them.’  The percentage was returned, and continued, and the young squire has tided over the difficulty.

His own tenantry and the farming interest generally are proud of him.  Hodge, who, slow as he is, likes a real man, says, ’He beant such a bad sort of a veller, you; a’ beant above speaking to we!’ When the time comes the young squire will certainly be returned.

CHAPTER XIV

THE PARSON’S WIFE

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Hodge and His Masters from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.