If his lordship would stick up
over his gate a notice to the effect that everything seen there was
to be avoided, he might do some service. If he would publish his
accounts half-yearly in the village newspaper--"
"There isn't a village newspaper."
"In the Rufford Gazette. There is a Rufford Gazette, and Rufford
isn't much more than a village. If he would publish his accounts
half-yearly in the Rufford Gazette, honestly showing how much he
had lost by his system, how much capital had been misapplied, and
how much labour wasted, he might serve as an example, like the
pictures of 'The Idle Apprentice.' I don't see that he can do any
other good,--unless it be to the estimable gentleman who is allowed
to occupy the pretty house. I don't think you'd see anything like
that model farm in our country, Sir."
"Your views, Mr. Gotobed, are utilitarian rather than picturesque."
"Oh!--if you say that it is done for the picturesque, that is
another thing. Lord Rufford is a wealthy lord, and can afford to be
picturesque. A green sward I should have thought handsomer, as well
as less expensive, than a ploughed field, but that is a matter of
taste. Only why call a pretty toy a model farm? You might mislead
the British rustics."
They had by this time passed through a couple of fields which
formed part of the model farm, and had come to a stile leading into
a large meadow.
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