Well, now he
was to be left to Levasseur's tender mercies--after all he had
taught her! And the accounts, and the estate, and these infernal
rations, that no human being could understand!
The Squire's self-pity rose upon him like a flood. Just at the
worst, he heard a knock at the library door. Before he could say
'Come in,' it was hurriedly opened, and his two married daughters
confronted him--Pamela, too, behind them.
'Father!' cried Mrs. Gaddesden, 'you must please let us come and
speak to you!'
What on earth was wrong with them? Alice--for whom her father had
more contempt than affection--looked merely frightened; but
Margaret's eyes were angry, and Pamela's reproachful. The Squire
braced himself to endurance.
'What do you want with me?'
'_Father_!--we never thought you meant it seriously! And now Forest
says all the gates are closed, and that the village is up in arms.
The labourers declare that if the County plough is turned back
to-morrow, they'll break them down themselves. And when we're all
likely to be starving in six months!'
'You really can't expect working-folk to stand quietly by and see
such a thing!' said Margaret in her intensest voice.
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