But he would
never speak to her again!
As he was returning round the wood, whom should he see skulking
round the corner of it but Goarly?
"What business have you in here?" he said, feeling half-inclined to
take the man by the neck and drag him out of the copse.
"I saw you, Mr. Twentyman, and I wanted just to have a word with
you."
"You are the biggest rascal in all Rufford," said Larry. "I wonder
the lads have left you with a whole bone in your skin."
"What have I done worse than any other poor man, Mr. Twentyman?
When I took them herrings I didn't know there was p'ison; and if I
hadn't took 'em, another would. I am going to cut it out of this,
Mr. Twentyman."
"May the -- go along with you!" said Larry, wishing his neighbour a
very unpleasant companion.
"And of course I must sell the place. Think what it would be to
you! I shouldn't like it to go into his Lordship's hands. It's all
through Bean I know, but his Lordship has had a down on me ever
since he came to the property. It's as true as true about my old
woman's geese. There's forty acres of it. What would you say to 40
pounds an acre?"
The idea of having the two extra fields made Larry's mouth water,
in spite of all his misfortunes. The desire for land among such as
Larry Twentyman is almost a disease in England. With these two
fields he would be able to walk almost round Dillsborough Wood
without quitting his own property.
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