Hayes Would presently arrive, and Railton would be asked to pay, or give security for, the shortage, which was impossible.

Hayes knew this and meant to break his lease.
Perhaps the hardest thing was that the shortage was small; if the next lambing season were good, he could pay.

But Hayes would not wait.
Although Railton was too proud to beg for help from his neighbors, he had gone to the bank.

Osborn, however, used the same bank, and it looked as if Hayes had given the manager a hint, because he refused a loan.

Askew had offered a hundred pounds, but this was not enough, and even if Kit arrived with the sheep from Swinset, Railton could not find the rest of the money.