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Presently the latter indicated a low ridge that broke the level marsh. It rose against the background of misty hills, and a creek that caught the light and shone wound past it to the sands. In one place, a gray wall appeared among stunted trees. "Langrigg," he said. "We'll arrive in a few minutes."
"Langrigg is rather an expensive house to manage and the farm rents are low," Mordaunt answered in a thoughtful voice. "Have you any money? Perhaps I'm blunt, but I'm a relative." "I have some. Not enough to help me do all I want." "You mean to do something, then?" "If I stay, I'm going to put up the farm rents, though I mean to help my tenants pay.
"The man who ought to own Langrigg vanished in Canada." "On the whole, I imagine that's lucky. The trustees spent a large sum in trying to find him and were satisfied he was dead. His age made this probable." "But he might have had a son." "Of course," Mordaunt agreed. "Suppose he had a son? The fellow obviously knows nothing about his inheritance; and for that matter, Langrigg is not worth much.
I don't mean to urge the claim. He didn't give me Langrigg, he left my father alone, and if I keep the place, I'm going to run it as I like." "Do you mean to keep Langrigg?" Carrie asked. Jim looked thoughtful. "I imagine so; I don't know yet. There are drawbacks, but something pulls. I'll wait a bit before I decide." He got up and beckoned Jake. "Let's go and see the farms."
There were barns and byres in the background, and it was hard to tell if Langrigg was a well-kept farm or a country house. The strange thing was, Jim knew it well. He felt as if he had come to a spot he often visited; in fact, he had a puzzled feeling that he had come home. Then he saw people on the terrace and the car stopped. He jumped out and after helping Mrs.
Dick came rather often to Langrigg and she imagined Carrie attracted him, although she knew the girl had not meant to use her charm. "It's nearly full-moon," he remarked when he came back. "I don't think Jim will mind if I borrow one of his guns. I know where they are. Don't bother to ring." "Are you going to shoot?" Mrs. Winter asked. "I might get a shot," Dick replied carelessly.
The likeness was rather in Bernard's voice and manner than his face, although she found it there. Then he looked up and asked: "Do you like Dryholm?" "Oh, yes," said Carrie. "Almost as much as I like Langrigg." Bernard smiled and nodded. "Langrigg has a touch that only time can give. A house matures slowly." "I think that is so," Carrie agreed. "One feels it in England.
He began to ponder and struggle with a disturbing doubt. If the Irrigation Company failed, he must use economy, because the farm rents would not enable him to live at Langrigg like a country gentleman. For himself, this did not matter much; he did not want a number of servants and gardeners. But Evelyn was used to the extravagance at Whitelees, and he knew Mrs. Halliday's views.
He paused and his look was serious when he resumed: "In a way, it's strange, but your English customs have a grip; they get hold of one. In fact, I'm getting English fast, but perhaps that is not quite right. I begin to feel I am English." Mrs. Halliday gave him an approving smile. "You inherited more than Langrigg from the Dearhams, Jim.
"I think we have all found it a drawback to keep the hounds near the hills, since the meets are generally held by the deep water in the flat holms. In fact, one feels the hounds ought to go to Dryholm or Langrigg." Mordaunt quietly lighted a cigarette and then replied: "I'm afraid you must rule out Dryholm. Bernard declares he is too old to take the hounds." "But what about yourself?"
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