“There is a great deal of land about Lasswade that might be feued very advantageously--but I would not do it without ascertaining your feeling on the subject, Richard. It can’t make much difference in my time; but in the course of nature that time can’t be very long.” “I wish it might be a hundred years,” said Richard, with no false sentiment; for indeed, apart from natural affection, to be Lord Eskside and live up here in the paternal _château_ among the woods did not charm his imagination much. “That is all very pleasant for you to say,” said his father, receiving and dismissing the compliment with a wave of his hand; “but, as I say, in the course of nature my time must be but short. There is just the question about the amenities, upon which every man has his own opinions----” “The---- what did you say?” asked Richard, puzzled. “The amenities of the place. It is true the village is not visible from the house, but if in the future you were to find the new houses that might be built an eyesore----” “That is entirely a British notion,” Richard answered, with a smile; “I think great part of the beauty in Italy is from the universal life you see everywhere--villages climbing up every hillside. No; I have no English prejudices on that point.” “I don’t know that it’s an English prejudice,” said Lord Eskside, who never forgot the distinction between English and Scotch as his son invariably did. “Then you don’t object to feuing? Willie Maitland will be a proud man. He has told me often I might add a thousand a-year to the income of the property by judicious feus. They will be taken up by all kind of shopkeeper bodies, retired tradesmen, and the like--a consideration which gives me little trouble, Richard, but may perhaps act upon you. No? Well, you’re a philosopher: they’re bad at an election; they’re totally beyond control--unless, indeed, your mother and I were to put ourselves out of our way to visit and make of them; but we would want a strong inducement for that.” Here Lord Eskside looked at his son with a look of veiled entreaty, not saying anything; and Richard knew his father well enough to comprehend. “You must not think of that, sir,--indeed you must not. Am I in a position to be set up before the county, and have every fact of my life brought up against me? No, father, anything else you like--but let me stay among strangers, where the circumstances of my existence need not be inquired into.” “I don’t know that you have anything to be ashamed of,” said Lord Eskside, with a husky voice. “Anyhow, I cannot offer myself as a subject to be discussed by all the world,” said Richard. Courage, he said to himself--to-morrow and all this will be over! He made a strenuous effort to be patient, strengthened by the thought.