Master Clark was prevailed upon to stay and take part in the funeral service; and during the interval he and Miles had many serious talks as to the future.
As one of the great Cardinal's secretaries, Miles could return to London with his wife, and turn his back upon all the confusion and muddle that his father's affairs seemed to have fallen into of late.
If he did this, however, things would inevitably go from bad to worse; and there was his mother and sister to think for as well as himself, although it must be confessed that Miles rebelled at the thought of being so far from London just now, when his friend at the "Golden Fleece" might be in need of his help in the work of translating God's Word into English.
Still, great as this work was, and needful as it might be, Master Clark held that, for the present at least, Miles' duty was to stay at Paton Hall, and try to alleviate the lot of the peasants, who were apparently on the verge of a revolt against the landlords.
"You can do something to lighten their lot, and it is the duty that lies nearest to you now," said his friend; "and though you may not be able to set up a ready-made Utopia, after the pattern of my friend's, still you might begin to set one growing, and that would be worth something."
The two were gazing out over the pasture-land that had been almost denuded of its sheep, and the sight of which had doubtless done much to shorten the days of the late baronet.
The sheep had been sold, and the money paid over to Lady Audrey, but this could not bring back the men who had farmed the land; and as he thought of this and the beggars' camp in the woods, and how many had been driven off the land to this roving life by the landlord's passion for making money by wool, he thought he would try to set right the wrong that had been wrought in that little corner of the country. He could thank God now that he had stood firm, and refused to do his part in ousting the last of the tenants from their holdings. These still remained, though they were in great trouble, for, as the baronet could not let the land for sheep farming, he had put a higher rental upon it than the tenants had ever paid before, and there had been distress and poverty in every home since.
Now Master Clark thought it would be worth something to put the teaching of Christ into practice on the Paton lands. At all events it was the duty that lay nearest to his hand now, and consequently the one for him to do; and so, before the funeral, a letter was written to the Cardinal, telling him what had happened, and that he had found his father's affairs in such confusion that he must ask leave to stay, for a time at least, and put things in order. And, having despatched this letter, Miles felt he began to sever his connection with the life in London, though he still hoped to be able to help his friend at the "Golden Fleece."