"It is to be hoped not," replied the farmer. "A man may do this if he has a good fat balance at his banker's, but not else."
George made no remark. To have explained how very different his ideas of a gentleman were from those of Farmer Apperley might have involved him in a long conversation. His silence was looked suspiciously upon by Mr. Chattaway.
"Where idle and roving notions are taken up, there's only one cure for them!" he remarked, in short, uncompromising tones. "And that is hard work."
But that George's spirit was subdued, he might have hotly answered that he had taken up neither idle nor roving notions. As it was, he sat in silence.
"I doubt whether it will be prudent to keep George at home," said Mrs. Ryle, speaking generally, but not to Mr. Chattaway. "He is too young to do much on the farm. And there's John Pinder."
"John Pinder would do his best, no doubt," said Mr. Chattaway.
"The question is—if I do resolve to put George out, what can I put him to?" resumed Mrs. Ryle.
"My father thought it best I should remain on the farm," interposed George, his heart beating a shade faster.
"He thought it best that I should exercise my own judgment in the matter," corrected Mrs. Ryle. "The worst is, it takes money to place a lad out," she added, looking at Farmer Apperley.
"It does that," replied the farmer.