110 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



" Oh ! no : it wasn't to study : I often go and stay 

 with him : ah ! that is farming ! He hasn't an acre 

 of grassland : not a bit except the grass-plot before 

 his door, and he says he shouldn't keep that except to 

 wipe his shoes on." 



" Ah ! well : We are rather proud of our dairy pas- 

 tures though, here. Are you married Mr. ? 

 Excuse my " 



" Not yet Sir, but I'm going to be. It 's on that 

 account I'm going to take a farm. I've a thousand 

 pounds of my own ; and She that is her aunt, who 

 died lately, left her a thousand pounds ; rather more 

 I believe so we shall have plenty to begin upon. 

 Mr. Mac Scuffler has promised to send me a Scotch 

 plough and four capital horses, Clevelands I think he 

 calls them ; such steppers ! you'd be astonished to see 

 the rate they go over the ground." 



" Are her family connected with witli ' Af/ricul- 

 ture,' is her father a 



" A Farmer ? oh ! no. He was in trade : but he 

 is dead : she was living with her aunt till lately." 



A few moments' pause ensued : the free youtliful 

 expression of self-confidence on the face of the 

 speaker contrasting curiously with the somewhat 

 puzzled and half-painful thoughtfulness expressed by 



