“The more the easier. A brat of four can scare the crows: the only pity is that his boys wouldn’t stay on the land.”
“What was there to stay for? I think there ought to be a law that nobody gets under ten shillings,” persisted Jinny.
“What a blessing we haven’t got women over us,” said the farmer, smiling at a heresy too unreasonable for argument. “Men Governments are bad enough, but women would drive us to the workhouse.”
“And what about the Queen?” asked Jinny.
“Well, what about the Queen?” he repeated vaguely.
“Isn’t the Queen a woman?”
“The Queen a woman!” He was dazed. “But she doesn’t really govern—not nowadays. It’s Lord John!”
“Well then, what about Queen Elizabeth?”
“Ah, that was some time back,” he said evasively.
“Yes, she put on the crown in 1558, November 17,” quoted Jinny from that Spelling-Book.