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The men came back with a big jar and a basket, and the others gathered round when Kit took off the clean, wet cloth. "Yon lunch niver came fra Tarnside; it's ower good and liberal," said one. "Ashness folk dinna believe in sending a half-empty jar." When they had eaten and drunk, one or two tried to light their pipes but gave it up and they got to work again.
"Yes; good cover's scarce, and if the birds are disturbed they move down to Rafton Woods. For a sporting neighbor, Hayton hardly plays the game. To put down corn is, of course, allowable, but he uses damaged raisins!" "Then you don't feed?" "Very little," Osborn replied. "Corn's too dear. The Tarnside pheasants live on the country." "I expect that really means they live on the farmers!"
Although the day was dark and rain beat upon the high windows, the light was strong enough to show the fine modeling of the old and shabby furniture. It was a noble room and with well used money could be given a touch of stateliness; but there was something cold and austere about Tarnside, while Ashness was homelike and warm.
Then she went out, for the strain had been hard to bear, and Osborn sat at the table with his hand tightly closed. He admitted that he had from the beginning been wrong about Kit, but his prejudices were not altogether banished yet. A week after Hallam's visit, Kit, one afternoon, started for Tarnside.
"I thought you were on my side!" "I am on your side where you feel strongly. Perhaps I am reserved and you do not often give me your confidence." "I'm sorry. We are seldom quite honest at Tarnside; somehow one can't be oneself, but now we must be frank. I don't like Alan Thorn; I never liked him. It's impossible." "Then, my dear, there is no more to be said." Grace made a sign of disagreement.
For the most part, the dalesfolk looked happy and she had come to envy them. They had their troubles, but they were troubles all mankind must bear, and they had joys one did not properly value at Tarnside: human fellowship and sympathy, and freedom to follow their bent.
He waited with a patience that somehow indicated understanding, and she looked about. The tall oats rippled before the wind and soft shadows trailed across the hillside. When the white clouds passed, the dale was filled with light that jarred her hopelessness. "As you haven't begun yet, I'll make a guess," said Kit. "Things have been going wrong at Tarnside since Gerald came home?
"I have been to see the mended dyke," she said, and he knew that she had pluck. "It's a rough job. There was no time to finish it neatly." "I'm surprised you were able to finish it at all." "I mustn't claim all the credit," Kit rejoined, smiling. "There were a number of others as well as the Tarnside men." Grace made an impatient gesture.
He was very obstinate about the bedding plants he wanted to buy and the borders look thin, but I felt I must be firm," she said and added drearily: "I wonder when we shall be forced to get a sporting tenant and live in a smaller house." "Father would not leave Tarnside. I suppose you don't know how things are really going?"
Osborn was with her husband and there was a bundle of papers on the big table. "I have got the particulars you wanted," Osborn said. "Hayes will arrive in half an hour, but that should give us time enough." Kit nodded. "Yes, I want a few minutes." When he had studied the documents he looked up. Tarnside would soon be his and he glanced about the library with a new curiosity.
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