Hilary Woodrow returned home during the latter part of May, and Ruddyford rejoiced to see him. But despite his assurances, all found him a little changed. He was tolerably active and cheerful, yet thinner than of yore, and his love of the saddle had decreased. He rode abroad less than formerly, and he read more; but he showed no indifference to the minor questions of the passing hour. Of old, nothing was too small for him to bestow thought upon it; and he still liked to be consulted as to the affairs of his farm. Yet in certain particulars it seemed that he had slightly changed his attitude to most things. "'Tis more like a visitor in the house, somehow, than the master," said Peter Lethbridge to Daniel; and the other admitted it. "Too easy for a master now," he answered. "'Tis a very bad sign in my opinion, and I shall have a tell with him about it." He was as good as his word, and explained his uneasiness in very clear language. "I feel I'm largely the cause of this," he declared while once they walked together homeward from the railway station of Lydford. "It hurts me terrible--'tis as though you felt Ruddyford was gone already. I wish to God you'd burn them papers, and put dying out of your mind. If I may say so, you'm a man running to meet the end of life. And you, please Heaven, with thirty years of usefulness before you." "I like you to say these things, Dan; because it shows you're the same always. You don't change. I wish we were all as steadfast. But to be honest with you, I'm come to a time when the rest of the road can be seen pretty clear. The things that make life worth living shrink very small as soon as life ceases to be worth living." "Life's worth living while we've got the power left to think a good thought." Woodrow did not answer for some time. Then he said: "I want you to go to Bristol for me next month. Don't think I've lost interest in my farm and my stock. There's a sale there of pedigree stuff, and I've ideas. I'll buy three beasts--a bull and two heifers." "They'll cost a mint of money." "Why not?" Brendon rejoiced. "A pity there ban't more with your great ideas on Dartymoor. The place is the best grazing ground in England, yet who knows its worth? I'll go, and gladly. You must put a limit on the purchases if 'tis an auction." "I'll tell you to-night, if you'll come in for an hour. How's little Gregory this morning?" Daniel's animation waned somewhat. "Not all us could wish--fretful seemingly, and off his food. Sarah Jane be going to have doctor to him if he ban't better next week." "Don't put it off." "He's growing that fast." "A very good lad--more like you than his mother. You'll make a farmer of him, Daniel?" "I mean to. 'Twas my hope us should have had another boy to grow up with him--but----" "Plenty of time."