When they parted both knew that the rent would be settled, as it was next Friday, on the old terms. Opinion in the kirkyard was divided over this part of the bargain, a minority speaking of it as a drawn battle, but the majority deciding that Hillocks had wrested at least ten pounds from the factor, which on the tack of nineteen years would come to £190. So far Hillocks had done well, but the serious fighting was still to come. One June day Hillocks sauntered into the factor's office and spent half an hour in explaining the condition of the turnip “breer” in Drumtochty, and then reminded the factor that he had not specified the improvements that would be granted with the new lease. “Improvements,” stormed the factor. “Ye're the most barefaced fellow on the estate, Hillocks; with a rent like that ye can do yir own repairs,” roughly calculating all the time what must be allowed. Hillocks opened his pocket-book, which contained in its various divisions a parcel of notes, a sample of oats, a whip lash, a bolus for a horse, and a packet of garden seeds, and finally extricated a scrap of paper. “Me and the wife juist made a bit note o' the necessaries that we maun hae, and we 're sure ye 're no the gentleman tae refuse them. “New windows tae the hoose, an' a bit place for dishes, and maybe a twenty pund note for plastering and painting; that's naething. “Next, a new stable an' twa new byres, as weel as covering the reed.” “Ye may as well say a new steadin' at once and save time. Man, what do you mean by coming and havering here with your papers?” “Weel, if ye dinna believe me, ask Peter Robertson, for the condeetion o' the oot-houses is clean reediklus.” So it was agreed that the factor should drive out to see for himself, and the kirkyard felt that Hillocks was distinctly holding his own although no one expected him to get the reed covered. Hillocks received the great man with obsequious courtesy, and the gude wife gave him of her best, and then they proceeded to business. The factor laughed to scorn the idea that Lord Kilspindie should do anything for the house, but took the bitterness out of the refusal by a well-timed compliment to Mrs. Stirton's skill, and declaring she could set up the house with the profits of one summer's butter. Hillocks knew better than try to impress the factor himself by holes in the roof, and they argued greater matters, with the result that the stable was allowed and the byres refused, which was exactly what Hillocks anticipated. The reed roof was excluded as preposterous in cost, but one or two lighter repairs were given as a consolation. Hillocks considered that on the whole he was doing well, and he took the factor round the farm in fair heart, although his face was that of a man robbed and spoiled.