But all the while Things were but _uncomfortable_ at home, though she made such a _tearing Figure_ when abroad. Nothing to be had for Farms, by reason the Soldiers put _in_ and _out_ as they pleased. No _Leets_ or _Manor Courts_ were minded. No _taxing_ for _Repairs_ and _Bounds_, but the Soldiers _taxed_ for _Contingencies_ as much Money as they could hear any one had. So that the _Tenants_ found themselves in a worse _Pickle_ than ever they had been under the Management of a _Steward_. They longed for Courts and _Inquests_, and to have every thing set on the old Bottom again. They heard of a _poor Boy_, a Son of the late _Steward_'s, who had run away from the _Lands_ the Time his Father was hanged, and was now grown up to Years of Discretion. As he had _bit_ a good while on the Bridle, they thought he might be tamed, more careful than his _Father_, and do them more Justice and Kindness. They brought him home in a _Hurry_; and, as it's natural to run from one Extreme to another, were sure they were all _made_ when they got him into the _Stewardship_. It must be owned, he was a pleasant, good-humoured Fellow as ever broke Bread, civilly behaved, and by no means wanted Capacity for the Business. But he was _idle_ to a Degree, followed W----ng and Horse-racing; and provided he could borrow Money enough from the _Tenants_, or get _Presents_ from the _Neighbours_, to treat his Wenches and buy them _Top-knots_, never heeded how _Accounts_ were settled, how he held the _Courts_, or how he paid the Servants. Farm-houses went to decay, and Strangers forestalled the Markets. Few People, however, could find in their Heart to hate him. They had a Love for him, though he was daily undoing them: For it was always _their Humour_ to like a _boon Companion_; and instead of crossing his Prodigality, they followed his Example, wh----ed it away from the highest to the lowest, revelled and caroused for _dear Blood_, and were never better pleased than when the last Penny was a going. It became a _Fashion_ to be Bankrupt; to be Rich, was to lose all Credit; and to be Just, was the Mark of a Scoundrel. But though the _elder Sister_ was well-nigh undone by him, he did a good Turn by _Betty_, and sent one of his _Cousins_ to take care of her Concerns, who had a good Farm of his own under her, and was well-beloved over the whole Estate. He kept _Leet_ and _Court-Baron_, presented Vagabonds at the Sessions, and gave Rewards for apprehending _Out-laws_. He set the Tenants to Work, _lived constantly among them_, and looked himself into every thing. _Betty_ began to thrive, and was less expensive to her _Sister_, who had wasted huge Sums to keep her Head above Water. She stuck to Business, and prospered mainly, 'till the _Steward_'s Brother got himself into the Place, who played H----ll with every thing, and brought the two Sisters to the Brink of Ruin.