ir, and a great City of London man,
and he wants to be quite the squire. The very first thing he does is to
get two men to work on the estate, and who does he get but that Dick
Darley and Sam Kelynack; and a nice pair they are, as you may know,
sir."

"Seeing that I've been away for years, Humphrey, I don't know," said
Trevor.

"Well, sir, they was both turned out of their last places--one for a bit
o' poaching, and the other for being always on the drink. They know I
don't like 'em--both of 'em," said Humphrey, with the veins swelling in
his white forehead; "and no sooner do they get took on, than they begin
to worry me."

"How?" said Trevor, smiling.

"Trespassing on my land, sir--I mean yours, sir, begging your pardon,
sir. They will do it, too, sir. You see, there's a bit of land at the
corner where Penreife runs right into the Tolcarne estate--sort of
tongue o' land, sir--and to save going round, they make a path right
across there, sir, over our bit of pasture."

"Put up a fence, Humphrey," said Trevor.

"I do, sir, and bush it, and set up rails; but they knocks 'em down, and
tramples all over the place. Sir Hampton's got an idea that he's a
right to that bit, as his land comes nigh surrounding it, and that makes
'em so sarcy."

"Well, we must see to it," said Trevor. "I want to be good friends with
all my neighbours."

"Then you've cut out your work," said Pratt, drily.

"You won't be with Sir Hampton, sir, you may reckon on that," said
Humphrey. "Lady Rea is a kind, pleasant lady enough, and the young
ladies is very nice, sir, and he's been civil enough to me; but he
upsets everybody nearly--him and his sister."

"Never mind about that," said Trevor, checking him. "I wish to be on
good terms with my neighbours, and if there be any trespass--any
annoyance from Sir Hampton's people--tell me quietly, and I will lay the
matter before their master."

"Or we might get up a good action for trespass," said Pratt. "But, by
the way," he said, stopping short, and sticking one finger on his
forehead, "is this Sir Hampton the chuffy old gentleman we saw at the
steeplechase?"

"Yes, sir; and as told me I might get up on the box-seat. That was him,
you know, as that blackguard prodded with his stick."

"Phew!" whistled Pratt. "I say, Dick," he whispered, "the old chap did
not see us under the best of auspices."

"No; it's rather vexing," was the reply.

They walked on from dense copse to meadow,