"Well," went on Wannop, "I saw Mrs. Olcott yesterday, and she mentioned the misunderstanding about her lease. I may tell you that Mrs. Wannop and Miss Allinson are friends of hers."
Judson was surprised, but decided that if he must offend either Wannop or the clergyman, it would better be the latter.
"Mr. Andrew called here in a hurry and said he had got a tenant for The Firs and I was to have some alterations made. He was driving, and as his horse was restive he ran out before we could talk over details."
Wannop thought this was correct, for Andrew was sometimes careless.
"Atkinson will take the field off your hands. It's not usual to charge a tenant with needful repairs; and you mustn't be hard on Mrs. Olcott about the rent. Perhaps you had better go over and put things straight with her."
Judson promised to do so and Wannop took out some papers.
"Here's a more important matter. I've decided to buy Bell's place, and you can see his agent and the architect as soon as convenient."
He rode away, knowing that his hints would be attended to. During the evening he met Hilda.
"I've seen Mrs. Olcott and Judson," he told her. "It's very unlikely that she'll have any more trouble about The Firs."
"That's splendid!" cried Hilda. "But how did you manage it?"