.

They came meaning to lend the farmer and his good family the money to
pay the man who was willing to go away in the farmer's place. But they
found their help was not needed.

"Still, since we are here," said Sir Arthur, "there is something I
should like to speak about. Mr. Price, will you come out with me, and
let me show you a piece of your land through which I want to make a
road. Look there," said Sir Arthur, pointing to the spot, "I am laying
out a drive round my estate, and that bit of land of yours stops me."

"Why, sir, true enough it's mine, but you are welcome to it. I can
trust you to find me another bit worth the same, or to make up the
value of it in some other way. I need say no more."

Sir Arthur was silent for a few moments. Then he said, "What is this I
hear about some mistake in your lease?"

"Well, sir," replied the farmer, "the truth is the fit thing to be
spoken at all times. I can show you a letter from your brother who had
the estate before you, and who let the farm to me. That letter shows
what he meant, Sir Arthur, and if in the writing of the lease it was
otherwise said, it is, as you say, a mistake, sir. Now a mistake is a
mistake all the world over, and should be treated as such, but
Attorney Case says in the matter of a lease you must abide by the
mistake as though it were the truth."

"You seem," said Sir Arthur, "to have some quarrel with this Attorney
of whom you talk so often. Now would you mind telling me frankly what
is the matter between you?"

"The matter between us, sir, is this," said Price. "You know the
corner of the field with the pink hawthorn near Mr. Case's house? The
lane runs past one side of it and a sweetbrier hedge separates it on
the other from his garden. Well, sir, the Attorney wishes to enclose
that bit of ground with his own, and as it belongs to the village, and
moreover is a play-green for the children, and it has been their
custom to meet by the hawthorn every Mayday for as many years as I can
remember, I was loth to see them turned out of it."

"Let us go together and look at this piece of ground," said Sir
Arthur. "It is not far off, is it?"

"Oh, no, sir, close by."

When they reached the ground, Mr. Case saw them from his garden and
hurried to the spot. He was afraid of what the farmer might tell Sir
Arthur. But this time the Attorney was too late, for the truth had
already been told.

"Is this the place you speak of?" asked Sir Arthur.

"Ye