Mr. X——­ is, in brief, a gambler.  Not in a dishonest, or even suspicious sense, but a pure gambler.  He is a gigantic agricultural speculator; his system is, as he candidly told you, credit.  Credit not only with the bank, but with everybody.  He has actually been making use of you, his casual and unexpected visitor, as an instrument.  You are certain to talk about him; the more he is talked of the better, it gives him a reputation, which is beginning to mean a great deal in agriculture as it has so long in other pursuits.  You are sure to tell everybody who ever chooses to converse with you about the country of Mr. X——­, and Mr. X——­’s engines, cattle, horses, profuse hospitality, and progressive science.

To be socially popular is a part of his system; he sows corn among society as freely as over his land, and looks to some grains to take root, and bring him increase a hundred fold, as indeed they do.  Whatever movement is originated in the neighbourhood finds him occupying a prominent position.  He goes to London as the representative of the local agricultural chamber; perhaps waits upon a Cabinet Minister as one of the deputation.  He speaks regularly at the local chamber meetings; his name is ever in the papers.  The press are invited to inspect his farms, and are furnished with minute details.  Every now and then a sketch of his life and doings, perhaps illustrated with a portrait, appears in some agricultural periodical.  At certain seasons of the year parties of gentlemen are conducted over his place.  In parochial or district matters he is a leading man.

Is it a cottage flower-show, a penny reading, a cricket club, a benefit society—­it does not matter what, his subscriptions, his name, and his voice are heard in it.  He is the life and soul of it; the energy comes from him, though others higher in the scale may be the nominal heads.  And the nominal heads, knowing that he can be relied upon politically, are grateful, and give him their good word freely.  He hunts, and is a welcome companion—­the meet frequently takes place at his house, or some of the huntsmen call for lunch; in fact, the latter is an invariable thing.  Everybody calls for lunch who happens to pass near any day; the house has a reputation for hospitality.  He is the clergyman’s right hand—­as in managing the school committee.  When the bishop comes to the confirmation, he is introduced as ‘my chief lay supporter.’  At the Rural Diaconal Conference, ‘my chief supporter’ is one of the lay speakers.  Thus he obtains every man’s good word whose good word is worth anything.  Social credit means commercial credit.  Yet he is not altogether acting a part—­he really likes taking the lead and pushing forward, and means a good deal of what he says.

He is especially quite honest in his hospitality.  All the same, so far as business is concerned, it is pure gambling, which may answer very well in favourable times, but is not unlikely to end in failure should the strain of depression become too severe.  Personal popularity, however, will tide him over a great deal.  When a man is spoken highly of by gentry, clergy, literally everybody, the bank is remarkably accommodating.  Such a man may get for his bare signature—­almost pressed on him, as if his acceptance of it were a favour—­what another would have to deposit solid security for.