Arthur was glad of the gift, yet found it difficult to accept it graciously. Many men imagine that they shield their independence by not seeming pleased.

“I cannot see,” said Arthur, “—of course it is very kind of you, and all that—but I should like to know why the land should not be mine to leave. I might have children, you know!”

“And I might have more children!” laughed Richard. “But that has nothing to do with it. The thing is this—the land itself I could give to you out and out, but the land has people. God did not give us the land for our own sakes only, but for theirs, too. The men and women upon it are my brothers and sisters, and I have to see to them. I know that you are liked by our people, and you have claims to be liked by them. And I have every feeling that you will prove a good and just landlord to them. I like you, Arthur, and consider you truly a brother, and therefore believe you will consider them as well as yourself or the land in the decisions you make. But suppose at your death it should go to your brother Percy? Should I not feel that I had betrayed my people?”

“He is my brother!”

“And mine. I know him. I was at Oxford with him. And not one foothold shall he ever have on land of mine. I cannot trust him as I do you. When he wants to work, let him come to me—not until then!”

“You will not say that to my mother?”

“I will say nothing to your mother. Do you accept my offer?”

“I will think it over.”

“Do,” said Richard, and turned to go.

“Will you not settle something on Victoria?” said Arthur.

“We shall see how she turns out by the time she is of age. I don’t want to waste money!”

“What do you mean by wasting money?”

“Giving it where it will do no good.”

“God gives to the bad as well as the good!”

“It is one thing to give to the bad, and quite another to give where it will do no good. God knows the endless result. All I see is the first link of the chain. I must act by the knowledge granted me. God may give money in punishment—should I dare do that?”

“Well, you’re quite beyond me.”

“Never mind, then. What you and I have to do is to be friends and brothers, and work together. You will find I mean well.”

“I believe you do, Richard, but we don’t somehow seem to be in the same world.”

“If we are true, that will not keep us apart. If we both work for the good of the people, we must come together.”

“To tell you the truth, if we did come together, I am afraid we should quarrel, and then I would seem ungrateful.”

“What would you say to our managing the estates together for a year or two? Would not that be the best way to understand each other?”