Rickeybockey wants to have 'em, and sounded me as to the rent when he was at the Hall.

I only half promised him the refusal.

And he must give up four or five acres of the best land round the cottage to the widow--just enough for her to manage--and she can keep a dairy.
If she want capital, I'll lend her some in your name,--only don't tell Stirn; and as for the rent--we'll talk of that when we see how she gets on, thankless, obstinate jade that she is! You see," added the squire, as if he felt there was some apology due for this generosity to an object whom he professed to consider so ungrateful, "her husband was a faithful servant, and so--I wish you would not stand there staring me out of countenance, but go down to the woman at once, or Stirn will have let the land to Rickeybockey, as sure as a gun.

And hark ye, Dale, perhaps you can contrive, if the woman is so cursedly stiffbacked, not to say the land is mine, or that it is any favour I want to do her--or, in short, manage it as you can for the best." Still even this charitable message failed.

The widow knew that the land was the squire's, and worth a good L3 an acre.