"Surely he ought to have known," said Mary.
"As for that, so ought I to have known, I suppose. The whole thing is one of the most ridiculous mistakes that ever was made. It has absolutely come to pass that here, in the middle of Wiltshire, with all our maps, and surveys, and parish records, no one concerned has known to whom belonged a quarter of an acre of land in the centre of the village. It is just a thing to write an article about in a newspaper; but I can't say that one party is more to blame than the other; that is, in regard to the ignorance displayed."
"And what will you do, Frank?"
"Nothing."
"You will do nothing, Frank?"
"I will do nothing; but I will take care to let the Marquis know the nature of his generosity. I fancy that I am bound to take on myself that labour, and I must say that it won't trouble me much to have to write the letter."
"You won't pull it down, Frank?"
"No, my dear."
"I would, before a week was over."
"So would I," said Mary. "I don't think it ought to be there."