know what would have happened! It will cost a couple of years' rent
to get things put straight."

When the Squire was at home there was scarce an evening when the
Rector did not come up to smoke a pipe and take his glass of old
Jamaica or Hollands with him.

"Look here, Bastow," the latter said, some three years after his
return, "what are you going to do with that boy of yours? I hear bad
reports of him from everyone; he gets into broils at the alehouse,
and I hear that he consorts with a bad lot of fellows down at
Reigate. One of my tenants--I won't mention names--complained
to me that he had persecuted his daughter with his attentions. They
say, he was recognized among that poaching gang that had an affray
with Sir James Hartrop's keepers. The thing is becoming a gross
scandal."

"I don't know what to do about him, Squire; the boy has always
been a trouble to me. You see, before you came home, he got into
bad hands in the village here. Of course they have all gone, but
several of them only moved as far as Reigate, and he kept up their
acquaintance. I thrashed him again and again, but he has got beyond
that now, you see; he is nearly eighteen, and openly scoffs at my
authority. Upon my word, I don't know what to do in the matter."

"He is growing up a thorough young ruffian," the Squire said
indignantly, "and one of these mornings I expect to see him brought
up before us charged with some serious offense. We had to fine him
last week for being drunk and making a disturbance down at Reigate.
Why do you let him have money? You may have no authority over him;