agent. "I will not trouble you
about this lease, Sir Arthur," he said, "but will hand it to your
agent, if you will inform me who is to have that post."

"I mean to be my own agent," answered Sir Arthur, "and will myself
look after the happiness of the people among whom I have come to
live."

It was the surprise of this reply that had sent Attorney Case home so
cross that Barbara had said to Betty she could not put up with him.

When his daughter had left him atone, the Attorney walked up and down
the room deep in thought. "At any rate," he said to himself at last,
"if Sir Arthur means to manage the estate himself in summer, he at
least will need an agent in winter. I must try to get the post." And
he still walked up and down, trying to think of some plan by which he
would find favor at the Abbey. Now that morning he had heard the
housekeeper at the Abbey ask the servants if any lamb were to be had
in the village, as Sir Arthur would like to have it one day soon for
dinner.

Knowing that he himself treated those farmers best who from time to
time gave him presents, Attorney Case thought that if he sent a gift
to Sir Arthur, it might help him to get what he wished.

No sooner had the idea struck him than the Attorney went to the
kitchen. Standing at the door was a shepherd-boy. Barbara, too, was
there.

"Do you know of a nice fat lamb?" the Attorney asked the lad.

Before the shepherd-boy could answer, Barbara exclaimed, "I know of
one. Susan Price has a pet lamb that is as fat as fat can be."

At once Attorney Case walked over to Farmer Price's cottage. He found
Susan packing her father's little wardrobe, and as she looked up, he
saw she had been in tears.

"How is your mother to-day, Susan?" inquired the Attorney.

"Worse, sir. My father goes to-morrow."

"That's a pity."

"It can't be helped," said Susan, with a sigh.

"It can't be helped--how do you know that?" said Mr. Case.

"Sir, dear sir!" cried she, looking up at him, and a sudden ray of
hope beamed in her sweet face.

"What if you could help it, Susan?" he said.

Susan clasped her hands in silence.

"You can help it, Susan." She started up. "What would you give now to
have your father at home for a whole week longer?"

"Anything!--but I have nothing."

"Yes, you have a lamb," said the hard-hearted Attorney.

"My poor little Daisy!" said Susan; "but what good can she do?"

"What good can any lamb do? Is not lamb good to eat? Why do you