'And pray who are "_we_"? I don't yet understand that clearly.'

'"We,"' said Sir Henry patiently, 'are the County War Agricultural
Committee, formed for the express purpose of getting more food out
of the land, and so making these islands self-supporting.'

'And if I refuse, what can you do?'

'Well, I'm afraid,' said Sir Henry, smiling uncomfortably, 'we can
act without you.'

'You can turn out my farmers, and plough my land, as you please?'

'Our powers are very wide.'

'Under--what do you call the beastly thing?--"Dora"--the Defence of
the Realm Act?'

Sir Henry nodded.

The Squire rose and began to pace up and down, his hands under his
coat-tails, his long spider legs and small feet picking their way in
and out of the piles and boxes on the floor. At last he turned
impetuously.

'Look here, Chicksands, I shall not give that man warning!'

Sir Henry surveyed the lanky figure standing opposite to him.