CHAPTER IV. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE BARONET. "Sometimes nature will display its folly, Its tenderness: and make itself a pastime For harder bosoms." Winter's Tale. It will hardly be supposed that a man of Sir John Scarsbrook's rank and character would be found at the table of the plebeian Manford, either from idle curiosity, or to indulge in friendly association. The following conversation will throw some light upon the position of the parties. "I-have," said the Baronet, 66 as you are aware, occasion for money, and have come to the resolution of disposing of the Shortwood's estate; my agent tells me, you have spoken to him on the subject, as the property is contiguous to your own, and as you are aware, there is abundance of coal and stone under it." "Why, aye," answered John, "I ha' looked it over, and should never heed buying it; but I'll ne'er give the upshot price of fifteen thousand pounds for it." "What, Mr. Manford, a man like you, rich enough to buy my whole lordship, stand haggling about the price ?-you know its well worth the money to you." "Why, as to that, I've worked hard for my money, and I sha'nt let it slip through my fingers very easily; I'll not deny that Shortwood's may be worth the money to me, but then nobody else will give you half the money for it, and why should I?" "Probably at this juncture nobody will, but how long will it be, before it is of the same value to your neighbours as to yourself? You are a shrewd man, Mr. Manford, and to my certain knowledge, that plot of ground you purchased from me last year, has repaid you a hundred fold." “May be—may be--but I'll tell you at a word what I'll do I'll give you the price, if you'll fling in the timber you've fallen." The timber! why it's worth a thousand pounds. However, to bring matters to a close, I shall take your terms, I want the money for special purposes, and I am not ashamed to acknowledge that I feel under considerable obligations to you in that affair with Norton." "Well, I'm quite agreeable Sir John, the title's clear and short, and as there's no incumbrance, except my own small mortgage, the deed won't cost much." "I envy much the equanimity, Mr. Manford, with which you make the purchase. Compelled, to some extent, in consequence of my own folly, to part with a moiety of my own property, I could have wished it had been any other but Shortwood's. My boyish days were passed there, I have many delightful reminiscences connected with it, and I know that your persevering industry, and extensive resources will soon convert its sylvan retreats, and rich inclosures into a barren desert, sacrificing the surface for the sake of making its mineral wealth available to your purposes." "Its very likely, Sir John," answered Manford; and in a few minutes the Baronet was rolling home in his carriage, and the manufacturer was counting cops. As Sir John Scarsbrook drove through the beautiful estate of Shortwood's, on his return to Vale Hall, feelings of a very bitter character filled his mind, that he should have dismembered his noble patrimony, by its sale. The devious and winding road, along which he passed, and which had been made by his father, as a private drive for himself, through the most charming part of his property, brought back to him the sunny days of his childhood. Not a dell, eminence, nor ravine, but was endeared to him by some cherished |