‘So at least she has created a village Hampden,’ said Bessie, ‘though, depend upon it, she little supposes herself to be the petty tyrant.’
‘I must go and explain to her, I suppose, to-morrow morning,’ said the Admiral.
However, he had scarcely reached his own gate before the ulstered form was seen rushing up to him.
‘Oh! Admiral Merrifield, good-morning; I was coming to ask you—’
‘And I was coming to you.’
‘Oh! Admiral, is it really so—as that impudent man told me—that those horrid people can’t be got out of those awful tumbledown, unhealthy places for all that immense time?’
‘Surely he was not impudent to you? He was only asserting his right. The cottages were taken by the year, and you have no choice but to give six months’ notice. I hope he was not disrespectful.’
‘Well, no—I can’t say that he was, though I don’t care for those cap-in-hand ways of your people here. But at any rate, he says he won’t go—no, not any of them, though I offered to pay them up to the end of the time, and now I must put off my beautiful plans. I was drawing them all yesterday morning—two model cottages on each side, and the drinking fountain in the middle. I brought them up to show you. Could you get the people to move out? I would promise them to return after the rebuilding.’
‘Very nice drawings. Yes—yes—very kind intentions.’
‘Then can’t you persuade them?’