Page hemmed and hawed. He had not the courage to say that if a landowner insists on spending the reserve fund of an estate on politics, the estate suffers. He had found Lady Coryston large sums for the party war-chest; but only a fool could expect him to build new cottages, and keep up a high level of improvements, at the same time.
"I am doing what I can," he said, hurriedly. "There are certain things that must be done. I have given orders."
"My son seems to have caught us napping," said Lady Coryston, rather grimly.
The agent passed the remark by. He inquired whether her ladyship was still determined to refuse land for the Baptist chapel.
"Certainly! The minister they propose is a most mischievous person, I have no intention whatever of extending his influence."
Page acquiesced. He himself would have made the Baptists happy with a half an acre, long since, and so, in his belief, scotched a hornet's nest. But he had never breathed any suggestion of the kind to Lady Coryston.
"I have done my best—believe me—to stop the Sunday disturbances," he said, "but in vain. They are chiefly got up, however, by people from a distance. Purely political!"
"Of course. I am not to be intimidated by them," said Lady Coryston, firmly.
The agent's inner mind let loose a thought to the effect that the increasing influence of women in politics did not seem to be likely to lead to peaceable living. But he merely remarked:
"I much regret that Lord Coryston should have addressed them himself last Sunday. I ventured to tell his lordship so when I met him just now in the village."