Haven’t seen ye for a long time, Hillcrist.

Hillcrist. [Who has risen] Not since I sold you Longmeadow and those cottages, I believe.

Hornblower.  Dear me, now! that’s what I came about.

Hillcrist. [Subsiding again into his chair] Forgive me!  Won’t you sit down?

Hornblower. [Not sitting] Have ye got gout?  That’s unfortunate.  I never get it.  I’ve no disposition that way.  Had no ancestors, you see.  Just me own drinkin’ to answer for.

Hillcrist. You’re lucky.

Hornblower.  I wonder if Mrs. Hillcrist thinks that!  Am I lucky to have no past, ma’am?  Just the future?

Mrs. H. You’re sure you have the future, Mr. Hornblower?

Hornblower. [With a laugh] That’s your aristocratic rapier thrust.  You aristocrats are very hard people underneath your manners.  Ye love to lay a body out.  But I’ve got the future all right.

Hillcrist. [Meaningly] I’ve had the Dackmans here, Mr. Hornblower.

Hornblower.  Who are they—­man with the little spitfire wife?

Hillcrist. They’re very excellent, good people, and they’ve been in that cottage quietly thirty years.

Hornblower. [Throwing out his forefinger—­a favourite gesture] Ah! ye’ve wanted me to stir ye up a bit.  Deepwater needs a bit o’ go put into it.  There’s generally some go where I am.  I daresay you wish there’d been no “come.” [He laughs].

Mrs. H. We certainly like people to keep their word, Mr. Hornblower.

Hillcrist. Amy!

Hornblower.  Never mind, Hillcrist; takes more than that to upset me.

     [Mrs. Hillcrist exchanges a look with Dawker who slips out
     unobserved.]

Hillcrist. You promised me, you know, not to change the tenancies.

Hornblower.  Well, I’ve come to tell ye that I have.  I wasn’t expecting to have the need when I bought.  Thought the Duke would sell me a bit down there; but devil a bit he will; and now I must have those cottages for my workmen.  I’ve got important works, ye know.

Hillcrist. [Getting heated] The Jackmans have their importance too, sir.  Their heart’s in that cottage.

Hornblower.  Have a sense of proportion, man.  My works supply thousands of people, and my, heart’s in them.  What’s more, they make my fortune.  I’ve got ambitions—­I’m a serious man.  Suppose I were to consider this and that, and every little potty objection—­ where should I get to?—­nowhere!

Hillcrist. All the same, this sort of thing isn’t done, you know.

Hornblower.  Not by you because ye’ve got no need to do it.  Here ye are, quite content on what your fathers made for ye.  Ye’ve no ambitions; and ye want other people to have none.  How d’ye think your fathers got your land?