hat lad of yours, before many
days are over, will be lodged in Winchester jail, and be sent to Botany
Bay, if he doesn't get the chance of entering on board a king's ship.
Perhaps they won't give him his choice, for threatening to shoot a lord
is a serious matter."

"Oh, Mr Gooch, you would not be so cruel as to wish to send our Dick to
prison!" exclaimed Janet, who had been listening to what was said.

"All your father has to do is to agree to what I propose, and he is safe
enough," answered the bailiff. "I can stay no longer. I called in to
give some friendly advice. If not taken, it is not my fault; so good
night to all. I hope that you'll settle the matter between you!"

Mr Gooch got up to go. Dick opened the door, having no wish to detain
him. Looking out, he saw that the account given of the weather was not
exaggerated.

"Is is plaguey dark, Mr Gooch!" he observed. "You'd better take a
lantern, sir."

"No, no; I know my way as well in the dark as in the daylight," was the
reply, and Mr Gooch stepping out, was soon lost to sight.

No sooner was the door closed than Dick exclaimed, "Don't give in,
father. I'd sooner go to prison, or Botany Bay, or be sent to sea, or
be hung, for that matter, rather than that you should yield up your
rights and be turned out of this farm."

"I will not give up the farm if I have a right to keep it, but if the
law is against me, go I must; still, I would not have you suffer, Dick,
unless you deserve it, and if it is proved that you were poaching, and
that you threatened to shoot the young lord, you must, as the bailiff
says, take the consequences, though it would well-nigh break my heart to
see you punished. But I have not much fear on the score either way. It
is my belief that the marquis does not know much about the matter of the
farm, and from beginning to end it is all the doing of Mr Gooch. What
he cares for is to please his master, and as he knows that his lordship
has a fancy for extending the park, he wants to get me to turn out, and
now that he thinks he has got hold of you, he fancies that he can
frighten me to do so. In regard to your affair, Dick, when the marquis
hears of the provocation you received, I don't think he will be hard
upon you."

The farmer made these remarks to tranquillise as far as he could the
mind of his wife. Perhaps he did not feel so confident himself. So
Dick at all events thought. The family soon afterwards separated for
the