, surely it would be far
better for him than if he had."

"Not in the long run, my dear: and for this reason, if he had encroached
it would have taken very little trouble to ascertain the fact, and Naboth
being a just and honest man, would only require to have it pointed out to
him to remedy the evil. Maps and plans of the estate would doubtless
have shown him his mistake, and, like a wise man, he would have avoided
going to law."

"I see clearly that the good man would have said, 'Neighbour Ahab, we
have been on neighbourly terms for a long lime, and I do not wish in any
way to alter that excellent feeling which has always subsisted between
us. I see clearly by these maps and plans which worthy Master Metefield
hath shown me that my hedge hath encroached some six inches upon thy
domain, wherefore, Neighbour Ahab, take, I pray thee, as much of the land
as belongeth unto thee, according to just admeasurement."

"Why certainly, so would the honest Naboth have communed with Ahab, and
there would have been an end of the business."

"But show me, darling, how being in the wrong was better for good Naboth
than being in the right in this business?"

"Most willingly," said I; "you see, my dear, there was quickly an end of
the matter by Naboth yielding to the just demands of neighbour Ahab. But
now let us suppose honest Naboth in the right concerning his vineyard,
and neighbour Ahab to be making an unjust demand. You have already most
justly observed that in that case it would be cowardly on the part of
Naboth to yield without a struggle?"

"Assuredly."

"Well then, that means a lawsuit."

"But surely," said my wife, "it ought to be soon seen who is in the
wrong. Where is Master Metefield who you said just now was so accurate a
surveyor, and where are those plans you spoke of which showed the
situation of the estates?"

"Ah, my dear, I see you know very little of the intricacies of the law;
that good Master Metefield, instead of being a kind of judge to determine
quickly as he did for Master Naboth what were the boundaries of the
vineyard, hath not now so easy a task of it, because Ahab being in the
wrong he is not accepted by him as his judge."

"But if the plans are correct, how can he alter them?"

"He cannot alter them, but the question of correctness of boundary as
shown, is matter of disputation, and will have to be discussed by
surveyors on both sides, and supported and disputed by witnesses
innumerable