52 A FARMER'S YEAR 



in the King's Head at Bungay, and makes ready his papers and 

 book of printed receipts. To him presently enters a tenant who 

 produces — or does not produce, as the case may be — the rent he 

 owes. Also in these times he generally takes the opportunity to 

 point out that a further reduction upon the attenuated sum payable 

 is absolutely necessary to enable him to live. In most instances 

 his story is true enough, although the landlord could wish that he 

 would show as great a readiness to call attention to the fact 

 whenever times or prices improve. Such an instance of almost 

 superhuman virtue has just come to my notice. A tenant of a 

 relative of mine in this neighbourhood appeared the other day and 

 paid his rent, plus an extra sum of 9/. Being asked for what 

 the 9/. was owing, he answered that when he took the farm he 

 came to a verbal understanding with its owner, since deceased, 

 that if ever times improved his rent should be increased. There 

 was no written statement to this effect, and the other party to the 

 arrangement can no longer bear witness to it ; but as this pearl 

 among tenants considered that times had improved with him to 

 the exact extent of 9/., he handed over that amount unasked. 

 ' Comment is superfluous.' 



In the old days it was customary to discharge the rent in coin, a 

 practice which some tenants still keep up, but now most of them- 

 have a banking account and pay by cheque. From the sum 

 due is deducted the amount disbursed out of pocket by the 

 tenant, but properly chargeable to the landlord, on account of 

 rates and taxes or repairs. Then the cheque is drawn out, often 

 slowly and with labour, unless, indeed, it has been brought ready 

 prepared, in which case the agent gives a cross cheque for the 

 difference, plus any allowance that may have been agreed upon. 

 Next, having been offered and drunk a glass of sherry, that tenant 

 departs with a sense of duty done, a lighter pocket, and the in- 

 struction to send up Mr. So-and-so. 



Of course there are tenants and tenants. There is the 

 specious and horsey young man with a glib tongue, from which 

 flow reasons innumerable why he should not pay his jusl debts, or 



