"How so?" asked Sir Arthur. "His lease will not be out for ten years, I believe."
"True, that would have been the case had there not been a mistake in it. I have the lease and can show you." The heartless man then went on to explain to Sir Arthur what the mistake was.
Sir Arthur remained silent.
"Oh! I see," said the Attorney. "You do not wish to annoy Farmer Price. But just put the matter into my hands and I will manage it for you."
"You seem to forget that to take the farm out of this poor man's hands would be to ruin him," replied Sir Arthur, quietly.
"Indeed," said the wicked Attorney, "indeed I should be sorry for that, if it were not that Farmer Price is such an unruly, stubborn man."
"An unruly man, is he? If that be so, the sooner he leaves the place the better. When you go home, you will be good enough to send me the lease that I may, for myself, see the mistake."
Attorney Case got up to go. But before he went, he thought he must try to find out if Sir Arthur was going to employ him to look after the estate, that is, if he was to be the agent. "I will not trouble you about this lease, Sir Arthur," he said, "but will hand it to your agent, if you will inform me who is to have that post."
"I mean to be my own agent," answered Sir Arthur, "and will myself look after the happiness of the people among whom I have come to live."
It was the surprise of this reply that had sent Attorney Case home so cross that Barbara had said to Betty she could not put up with him.