"They're beautiful black pigs," he cried, jumping up eagerly, "as black as they can be. Berkshire pigs. Look at them." So the squire looked at them; and not only looked at them, but asked the price and bought them, putting the money into a very large weather-beaten purse of Roger's; and presently the two happy boys were seated opposite to him in the parlour of the "Blue Boar" enjoying a substantial tea. With renewed spirits they chatted away to their kind host, whose jolly brown face beamed with interest and good-humour as he listened. At last Gabriel put down his tea-cup with a deep-drawn sigh of contentment, and said to his brother mysteriously: "Shall we tell about the plan?" Roger nodded. He could not speak just then, for he was in the act of taking a large mouthful of bread and jam. "Shall I tell it," said Gabriel, "or you?" "You," said Roger huskily. "You see," began Gabriel, turning to the squire confidentially, "it is a coperative plan." "A what?" interrupted the squire. "That's not the right word," said Roger; "he means co-co-co--" "Oh yes, I know, co-operative. Isn't that it?" "Yes, that's it, of course," continued Gabriel, speaking very quickly for fear that Roger should take the matter out of his hands. "We're going to put our money together, and Ben is going to put some money in too, and then we shall buy a pig; and when it has a litter we shall sell them, and perhaps buy a calf, and so we shall get some live stock, and have a farm, and share the profits." Gabriel sat very upright while he spoke, with a deepening flush on his cheeks. The squire leaned forward with a hand on each knee, and listened attentively. "Well," he said, "that seems a good plan. Where's the farm to be? In the vicarage garden?" "Father wouldn't like that," said Roger. "Why, possibly not," said the squire; "you see it's not always nice to have cattle and pigs too close to a house. But I tell you what; you know that little field of mine near the church, I'm wanting to let that off, how would that do?" "It would be just the very thing," said Roger, "but," he added reflectively, "we couldn't afford to give you much for it." "You must talk it over with Ben," said the squire rising, "it's not an expensive little bit of land, and I should say about ten shillings a year would be about the right price. And now, boys, you must start for home--as it is you won't be there much before dark." ------------------------------------------------------------------------