“What is it?”
“You remember the squire tried hard to get you to sell this place.”
“That was last year.”
“And you wouldn't sell. That is why he is angry with both of us.”
“But I don't understand why he should be,” said the widow, innocently. “He said he would take it only as a favor to me.”
“That was all 'gammon.' Excuse the word, which isn't very elegant, I admit, but it's the right word for all that. The squire wanted the place very much.”
“What could he do with it? He couldn't live in it himself.”
“Not much. I can imagine the look of disgust James's face would wear at the idea of such a thing. He wanted it for Nahum Brown, who lives in the old house up the road. You know Brown, who is a cousin of Mr. Banks, the superintendent, and he is very anxious to get hold of our house.”
“How did you learn all this, Herbert? I never knew it before.”
“Tom Banks let it out one day.”