' TALPA ' LOQUITUR. 165 



even now, the one where the highest was promised- 

 or the other ? ' 



Mr. Greening drew in his lips and shook his head. 

 ' Let the Landlords answer that. " 'Taint all gold 

 that glitters." ' 



* True : so for those that can't distinguish, a pure 

 currency were the greater blessing, eh ? ' 



* There '11 be less of it, I'm thinking,' said Mr. 

 Greening, * if it comes to that. But that aint all. 

 There's them Clay Siles. We haven't done with 

 them yet.' 



* We haven't begun with 'em ! We know nothing 

 about them ! almost absolutely nothing ! We know 

 that they are stiff to the plough and sticky to the 

 flock ; positive to the Bean, and negative to Barley ; 

 costly to drain, and, without it, profitless to farm. 

 We blunder on, with just these two or three nega- 

 tive dogmas on our tongues, and are satisfied to 

 think them knowledge enough. The truth is, we 

 have everything to learn about them. I say again 

 we haven't begun with 'em ! But come, I'm out of 

 breath. " After breakfast sit awhile," we mustn't 

 ride the old maxim to death. Let's go and look at 

 them'. I can give you your choice Red, blue, 

 yellow, and white, and every one with a different 



