"It was indeed. Two or three years ago I could have sold my right for a matter of three hundred pounds." "Yes!" interrupted the other tenant, "and a bit before that for six hundred pounds." "Is it not worth three hundred pounds to you now?" "No," said Mr. Tener, "for he has lost it by refusing the settlement I offered to make, and driving us into proceedings against him, and allowing his six months' equity of redemption to lapse." "And sure, if we had it, no one would be let to buy it now, sir," said the tenant. "But it's we that hope Mr. Tener here will let us come back on the holdings--that is, if we'd be protected coming back." "Now, do you see," said Mr. Tener, "what it is you ask me to do? You ask me to make you a present outright of the property you chose foolishly to throw away, and to do this after you have put the estate to endless trouble and expense; don't you think that is asking me to do a good deal?" The tenants looked at one another, at Mr. Tener, and at me, and the ex-bailiff smiled. "You must see this," said Mr. Tener, "but I am perfectly willing now to say to you, in the presence of this gentleman, that in spite of all, I am quite willing to do what you ask, and to let you come back into the titles you have forfeited, for I would rather have you back on the property than strangers--" "And, indeed, we're sure you would." "But understand, you must pay down a year's rent and the costs you have put us to." "Ah! sure you wouldn't have us to pay the costs?" "But indeed I will," responded Mr. Tener; "you mustn't for a moment suppose I will have any question about that. You brought all this trouble on yourselves, and on us; and while I am ready and willing to deal more than fairly, to deal liberally with you about the arrears--and to give you time--the costs you must pay." "And what would they be, the costs?" queried one of the tenants anxiously. "Oh, that I can't tell you, for I don't know," said Mr. Tener, "but they shall not be anything beyond the strict necessary costs." "And if we come back would we be protected?" "Of course you will have protection. But why do you want protection? Here you are, a couple of strong grown men, with men-folk of your families. See here! why don't you go to such an one, and such an one," naming other tenants; "you know them well. Go to them quietly and sound them to see if they will come back on the same terms with you; form a combination to be honest and to stand by your rights, and defy and break up the other dishonest combination you go in fear of! Is it not a shame for men like you to lie down and let those fellows walk over you, and drive you out of your livelihood and your homes?" The tenants looked at each other, and at the rest of us. "I think," said one of them at last, "I think ---- and ----," naming two men, "would come with us. Of course," turning to Mr. Tener, "you wouldn't discover on us, sir."