They had suffered exceptionally, and they trusted he would take no offence.

But there was an unmistakable hint that they were in earnest.

All signed it--from the ungrateful largest tenants, who had had presents of fancy poultry, and whose wives had been smiled upon, down to the smallest working farmer, who could hardly be distinguished from his own labourers.
The squire read the names over twice, pointing to each with his sharp, scratchy finger-nail.

There were other letters from the members of the other branch of the family whose pensions were just due in full.

Suppose he returned ten per cent.