"Nay, nay, little wench, not so fast," said the steward, not
unkindly. "I am but come to look after my Lady's interests, seeing
that we heard your poor father was dead, God have mercy on his soul
(touching his hat reverently), and his son gone off to the wars, and
nothing but a pack of children left."

"But 'tis all poor father's," muttered Stead, almost dumbfounded.

"It is held under the manor of Elmwood," explained the steward, "on
the tenure of the delivery of the prime beast on the land on the
demise of lord or tenant, and three days' service in hay and harvest
time."

What this meant Steadfast and Patience knew as little as did Rusha or
Ben, but Goodman Blane explained.

"The land here is all held under my Lady and Sir George, Stead--mine
just the same--no rent paid, but if there's a death--landlord or
tenant--one has to give the best beast as a fee, besides the work in
harvest."

"And the question is," proceeded the steward, "who and what is there
to look to. The eldest son is but a lad, if he were here, and this
one is a mere child, and the house is burnt down, and here they be,
crouching in a hovel, and how is it to be with the land. I'm bound
to look after the land. I'm bound to look after my Lady's interest
and Sir George's."

"Be they ready to build up the place if you had another tenant?"
asked Blane, signing to Stead to hold his peace.