You have been a warm and faithful little
friend to me, and it will go hard or I'll befriend you yet."
Dora looked up into his face, and as she did, her eyes filled with
tears. "I won't deny what you know, Bryan," she replied; "and unless
he----"
"Well, dear, don't fret; he and I will have a talk about it; but, come
what may, Dora, in this neglected and unfortunate country I will not
stay. Here, now, is a notice to quit my farm, that I have improved at an
expense of seven or eight hundred pounds, an' its now goin' to be taken
out of my hands, and every penny I expended on it goes into the pocket
of the landlord or agent, or both, and I'm to be driven out of house
and home without a single farthing of compensation for the buildings and
other improvements that I made on that farm."
"It's a hard and cruel case," said Dora; "an there can be no doubt but
that the landlord and Fethertonge are both a pair of great rogues. Can't
you challenge them, an' fight them?"
"Why, what a soldier you are, Dora!" replied her brother, smiling; "but
you don't know that their situation in life and mine puts that entirely
out o' the question. If a landlord was to be called upon to fight every
tenant he neglects, or is unjust to, he would have a busy time of it.
No, no, Dora dear, my mind's made up. We will lave the country.
Pages:
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387