"Well--hum--ha! It might not come handy just now, seeing that Sir
George is off with the King, and all the money and plate with him and
most of the able-bodied servants, but I'm the more bound to look
after his interests."

That seemed to be Master Brown's one sentence. But Blane took him
up, "Look you here, Master Brown, I, that have been friend and gossip
this many years with poor John Kenton--rest his soul--can tell you
that your lady is like to be better served with this here Steadfast,
boy though he be, than if you had the other stripling with his head
full of drums and marches, guns and preachments, and what not, and
who never had a good day's work in him without his father's eye over
him. This little fellow has done half his share and his own to boot
long ago. Now they are content to dwell down here, out of the way of
the soldiering, and don't ask her ladyship to be at any cost for
repairing the farm up there, but will do the best they can for
themselves. So, I say, Master Brown, it will be a real good work of
charity, without hurt to my Lady and Sir George to let them be, poor
things, to fight it out as they can."

"Well, well, there's somewhat in what you say Goodman Blane, but I'm
bound to look after my Lady's interests and Sir George's."

"I would come and work like a good one at my Lady's hay and harvest,"
said Stead, "and I shall get stronger and bigger every year."

"But the beast," said the steward, "my Lady's interests must come
first, you see."