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continued, lowering his voice confidentially, ‘I’ve really got the reins in my own hands, but we practise a sort of innocent little formula up there. We consult him, and then he asks us what we think, and whatever it is he agrees to it. That’s the system right through, and it acts like clock-work.’

‘I see,’ said Geoffrey; ‘but you don’t suppose that he doesn’t see through your little artifice, I hope.’

Sandy winked solemnly. ‘Of course he does,’ he admitted, ‘but that makes no difference. Bless you, he’s as keen as a hawk, but he doesn’t really want to be bothered with things; and so long as he has the semblance of authority, and everything goes forward smoothly, he is satisfied.’

Geoffrey stood lost in thought. The prospect was sufficiently attractive, but there were reasons why he should hesitate before accepting Sandy’s offer. One of them was the section, though that was not the one that first occurred to him. It seemed hard to leave Robert to continue at a task which he himself found distasteful. But it was not distasteful to Robert. Then he would certainly save money, and thus be able to help with the fencing. That alone made it worth while—perhaps. But it was only three or four days since he had made up his mind to force an interest in the farm, and he had been working hard and was settling down a little more contentedly. It was a pity to go back now, and perhaps have to begin all over again by and by. He doubted if he could work up resolution to accept such a lot a second time. He caught a word in Sandy’s remarks, and came out of his reverie with a start.