o that the resident in
this retired spot may communicate his wishes without a moment's delay to
any part of the world.

In the gardens and pleasure-grounds near the house all manner of
ornamental shrubs are planted. There are conservatories, vineries,
pineries; all the refinements of horticulture. The pheasants stray about
the gravel walks and across the close-mown lawn where no daisy dares to
lift its head. Yet, with all this precision of luxury, one thing is
lacking--_the_ one thing, the keystone of English country life--_i.e._ a
master whose heart is in the land.

The estate is in process of 'nursing' for a minor. The revenues had
become practically sequestrated to a considerable extent in consequence
of careless living when the minor nominally succeeded. It happened that
the steward appointed was not only a lawyer of keen intelligence, but a
conscientious man. He did his duty thoroughly. Every penny was got out
of the estate that could be got, and every penny was saved.

First, the rents were raised to the modern standard, many of them not
having been increased for years. Then the tenants were in effect ordered
to farm to the highest pitch, and to improve the soil itself by liberal
investment. Buildings, drains, and so forth were provided for them; they
only had to pay a small percentage upon the money expended in
construction. In this there was nothing that could be complained of; but
the hard, mechanical, unbending spirit in which it was done--the absence
of all kind of sympathy--caused a certain amount of discontent. The
steward next proceeded to turn the mansion, the park, home farm, and
preserves into revenue.

Everything was prepared to attract the wealthy man who wanted the
temporary use of a good country house, first-class shooting and hunting.
He succeeded in doing what few gentlemen have accomplished: he made the
pheasants pay. One reason, of course, was that gentlemen have expenses
outside and beyond breeding and keeping: the shooting party itself is
expensive; whereas here the shooting party paid hard cash for their
amusement. The steward had no knowledge of pheasants; but he had a wide
experience of one side of human nature, and he understood accounts.

The keepers were checked by figures at every turn, finding it impossible
to elude the businesslike arrangements that were made. In revenue the
result was highly successful. The mansion with the first-class shooting,
hunting, and lovely woodlands--ev