“I am glad of it. You spend too little money on yourself—a great deal too little.”
“That is a complaint you won't have long to make. I want to cut down a few trees. May I?”
“Going to build?”
“Don't ask me. It is for myself.”
“That is enough. Cut down every stick on the estate if you like. The barer it leaves us the better.”
“Ah, Charles, you promised me not. I shall cut with great discretion, I assure you.”
“As you please,” said Sir Charles. “If you want to make me happy, deny
yourself nothing. Mind, I shall be angry if you do.”
Soon after this a gaping quidnunc came to Sir Charles and told him
Lady Bassett was felling trees in North Wood.
“And pray who has a better right to fell trees in any wood of mine?”
“But she is building a wall.”
“And who has a better right to build a wall?”