20 EARLY YEARS. 



the practice if you like," said the Duke, " but not 

 until you first set the example yourself." 



It was the Duke's invariable habit to sit down 

 to dinner exactly at 6.30 p.m., and such was his 

 punctuality that nothing would induce him to wait 

 for any guest, however distinguished, who might 

 be staying at Welbeck. The same rigorous 

 punctuality was observed by him in every other 

 transaction, but I cannot say that it was inherited 

 by Lord George Bentinck, to whose nature it was 

 foreign. Such was his Grace's consideration for 

 others, that, upon hearing that one of his tenants 

 had given notice to leave his farm, he sent for the 

 man and inquired why he had taken this step ? 

 "Because, your Grace," he replied, "I have not 

 enough money to cultivate my farm properly." 

 "What do you intend doing?" was the next 

 question. " I thought of taking a small dairy- 

 farm, your Grace." " Would you not prefer 

 remaining in your own house, to which you are 

 accustomed," was the kind inquiry made by the 

 Duke, " and carrying on the farm for me, if I paid 

 you for doing so ? " "I should, indeed, prefer 

 that, your Grace." An arrangement was accord- 

 ingly made to that effect, and two or three years 

 later the Duke inquired from his agent in what 

 condition this particular farm was, and whether it 

 yielded a profit ? Reassured on this point, his 

 Grace sent for the tenant, and observed to him, 

 " If you are able to make this farm pay when 



