Malloring did not answer hastily. He had that best point of the good
Englishman, a dislike to being moved out of a course of conduct by
anything save the appeal of his own conscience.

"I don't know," he said, "why we should alter what we thought was just.
Must give him time to look round and get a job elsewhere."

"I think the general state of feeling demands it. It's not fair to the
villagers to let the Freelands have such a handle for agitating. Labor's
badly wanted everywhere; he can't have any difficulty in getting a
place, if he likes."

"No. Only, I rather admire the fellow for sticking by his girl, though
he is such a 'land-lawyer.' I think it's a bit harsh to move him
suddenly."

"So did I, till I saw from those young furies what harm it's doing. They
really do infect the cottagers. You know how discontent spreads. And
Tryst--they're egging him on, too."

Malloring very thoughtfully filled a pipe. He was not an alarmist; if
anything, he erred on the side of not being alarmed until it was all
over and there was no longer anything to be alarmed at! His imagination
would then sometimes take fire, and he would say that such and such, or
so and so, was dangerous.

"I'd rather go and have a talk with Freeland," he said. "He's queer, but
he's not at all a bad chap."

Lady Malloring rose, and took one of his real-leather buttons in her