"You know what our property is."
"No, I do not."
"You know - I mean, you know, my father's and mother's property is in Southern lands mostly, and in those that cultivate them."
"Yes. I believe I have understood that."
"Well, I will never be the owner of those people - the people that cultivate those lands; and so I suppose I shall not be worth a sixpence; for the land is not much without the people."
"You will not be the owner of them?"
"No."
"Why do you tell me that?" said Mr. Thorold gravely.
"I wanted you to know -" I said, hesitating and beginning very much to wish my words unsaid.
"And the question is, what I will do in the supposed circumstances? Was that it?"