“This, the gossips of the village said, the squire had the legal power to do, since the estate was not entailed; but they also urged that the squire had no moral right to rob his heir of that land which he should justly inherit, not only from his immediate progenitor, but from the long line of ancestors who had gone before him.
“This was the view taken by all the youthful tenants and boon companions of the young squire.
“At every evening gathering in the tap-room of the Tawny Lion, Joe heard this matter discussed, and naturally he took sides with the young squire and his followers.
“At length, when Joe and Lil had been in the neighborhood for about five weeks, a crisis came in the affairs of the Hall.
“It was understood that a very violent scene had ensued between the old squire and the young one, which had ended in the banishment of the young squire, who had left the Hall in disgrace and had taken lodgings at the Tawny Lion.
“In a day or two it was ascertained that the old squire had had a ‘stroke,’ and was not expected to live through the week.
“A servant from the Hall had brought the news to the circle at the ale-house, that a telegram had been sent to the solicitor of the old squire, Mr. John Ketcham, of Carlisle, to come immediately down to the Hall to remain with the squire until the end, and to take charge of affairs; also to bring with him the squire’s last will, which disinherited the heir and left the estate to a hospital, and which was already signed and sealed.
“Lawyer Ketcham, the man added, was expected to arrive at Stockbridge, the nearest railway station, by the 9:50 express, and would come on to the Hall by the railway stage coach, which ran twice a day between Stockbridge and Orton.
“The news brought by the servant from the Hall excited a great deal of indignation among the men present.
“Much foolish talk was indulged in. Many worse than foolish threats were made.