sense and penetration, he fortunately saw—­what, indeed, was generally well known—­that Peter and Ellish were rising in the world, and that their elevation was the consequence of their own unceasing efforts to become independent, so that industry is in every possible point of view its own reward.  So long as the farm was open to competition the offers for it multiplied prodigiously, and rose in equal proportion.  Persons not worth twenty shillings in the world offered double the rent which the utmost stretch of ingenuity, even with suitable capital, could pay.  New-married couples, with nothing but the strong imaginative hopes peculiar to their country, proposed for it in a most liberal spirit.  Men who had been ejected out of their late farms for non-payment of rent, were ready to cultivate this at a rent much above that which, on better land, they were unable to pay.  Others, who had been ejected from farm after farm—­each of which they undertook as a mere speculation, to furnish them with present subsistence, but without any ultimate expectation of being able to meet their engagements—­came forward with the most laudable efforts.  This gentleman, however, was none of those landlords who are so besotted and ignorant of their own interests, as to let their lands simply to the highest bidders, without taking into consideration their capital, moral character, and habits of industry.  He resided at home, knew his tenants personally, took an interest in their successes and difficulties, and instructed them in the best modes of improving their farms.

Peter’s first interview with him was not quite satisfactory on either side.  The honest man was like a ship without her rudder, when transacting business in the absence of his wife.  The fact was, that on seeing the high proposals which were sent in, he became alarmed lest, as he flattered himself, that the credit of the transaction should be all his own, the farm might go into the hands of another, and his character for cleverness suffer with Ellish.  The landlord was somewhat astounded at the rent which a man who bore so high a name for prudence offered him.  He knew it was considerably beyond what the land was worth, and he did not wish that any tenant coming upon his estate should have no other prospect than that of gradually receding into insolvency.

“I cannot give you any answer now,” said he to Peter; “but if you will call in a day or two I shall let you know my final determination.”

Peter, on coming home, rendered an account of his interview with the landlord to his wife, who no sooner heard of the extravagant proposal he made, than she raised her hands and eyes, exclaiming—­

“Why, thin, Pether, alanna, was it beside yourself you wor, to go for to offer a rint that no one could honestly pay!  Why, man alive, it ’ud lave us widout house or home in do time, all out!  Sure Pettier, acushla, where ‘ud be the use of us or any one takin’ land, barrin’ they could make somethin’ by it?  Faix, if the gintleman had sinse, he wouldn’t give the same farm to anybody at sich a rint; an’ for good rasons too—­bekase they could never pay it, an’ himself ’ud be the sufferer in the long run.”