It did not concern the squire where or how Frank got his money, provided he had it--he as landlord was secure in case of a crash, because the law gave him precedence over all other creditors.

So Frank ultimately stepped into one of the squire's largest farms and cut a finer dash than ever.
There are distinct social degrees in agriculture.

The man who occupies a great farm under a squire is a person of much more importance than he who holds a little tenancy of a small proprietor.

Frank began to take the lead among the farmers of the neighbourhood, to make his appearance at public meetings, and to become a recognised politician--of course upon the side most powerful in that locality, and most likely to serve his own interest.
His assurance, and, it must be owned, his ready wit, helped him in coming to the front.

When at the front, he was invited to the houses of really well-to-do country people.