"That's one of 'em," said George calmly.

"Well, your nerves are better, at any rate," said she. "Did you
tell 'em you'd bought the thing to play with?"

"No. That was where my nerve broke down. I only made one bad
break--I think. I said I couldn't see why hiring land to men to
farm wasn't as much a business proposition as anything else."

"And what did they say?"

"They smiled. I shall know what that smile means some day. They
don't waste their smiles. D'you see that track by Gale Anstey?"

They looked down from the edge of the hanger over a cup-like
hollow. People by twos and threes in their Sunday best filed
slowly along the paths that connected farm to farm.

"I've never seen so many on our land before," said Sophie. "Why
is it?"

"To show us we mustn't shut up their rights of way."

"Those cow-tracks we've been using cross lots?" said Sophie
forcibly.

"Yes. Any one of 'em would cost us two thousand pounds each in
legal expenses to close."