"And Oxford?" returned Chattaway, surprised at the news. "You had another term to keep."
"Ay, but I shall not keep it. I have had enough of Oxford. One can't keep straight there, you know: there's no end of expense to be gone into; and my mother is tired of it."
"Tired of the bills?"
"Yes. Not but that paying them has been George's concern more than hers. No one can deny that; but George is a good fellow, and he has not complained."
"Are there to be two masters on Trevlyn Farm?"
"No," cried Treve. "I know my place better, I hope, than to put my incompetent self above George—whatever my mother may wish. So long as George is on Trevlyn Farm, he is sole master. But he is going to leave us, he says."
Mr. Chattaway turned to George, as if for confirmation. "Yes," answered George, quietly; "I shall try to take a farm on my own account. You have one soon to be vacant that I should like, Mr. Chattaway."
"I have?" exclaimed Mr. Chattaway. "There's no farm of mine likely to be vacant that would suit your pocket. You can't mean you are turning your ambitious eyes to the Upland?" he added, after a moment's pause.
"Yes, I am," replied George. "And I must have a talk with you about it. I should like the Upland Farm."
"Why, it would take——"