"Yes," said Heathman, with his mouth full; "and 'tis also pretty well known you never do choose."
The elder Baskerville clapped his hands.
"One to you, Heathman!" he said. "Ned can't deny the truth of that."
But Ned showed no concern.
"I shall make up for lost time very easily when I do start," he said. "I've got ideas, I believe, and they go beyond ploughing. I'm like Cora here—all brains. You may laugh, Uncle Nat, but you're not the only Baskerville with a head on your shoulders. I'll astonish you yet."
"You will—you will—the day you begin to work, Ned; and the sooner the better. I shall be very glad when it happens."
The women laughed, and Cora much admired Ned's lofty attitude. She too had ambitions, and felt little sympathy with those who were content to labour on the soil. She strove often to fire her brother and enlarge his ambitions; but he had the farmer's instinct, enjoyed physical work, and laughed at her airs and graces.
"Give me Rupert," said Heathman now. "He's like me—not much good at talking and ain't got no use for the girls, but a towser to work."
"The man who ain't got no use for the girls is not a man," declared Ned very positively. "They're the salt of the earth—ban't they, Mrs. Lintern?"
She smiled and looked at him curiously, then at his uncle; but she did not answer.