Well, well--now then to business.

Who wants to cut my woods--and what do they offer for them ?' Elizabeth put the papers in front of him.

He turned them over.
'H'm--they want the Cross Wood--one of the most beautiful woods in England.

I have spent days there when I was young drawing the trees.
And who's the idiot'-- he pointed to some marginal notes--'who is always carping and girding?
"Good forestry" would have done this and not done that.

"Mismanagement"-- "neglect"! Upon my word, who made this man a judge over me ?' And flushed with wrath, the Squire looked angrily at his secretary.
'Heavens!'-- thought Elizabeth--'why didn't I edit the papers before I showed them ?' But aloud she said with her good-tempered smile-- 'I am afraid I took all those remarks as applying to Mr.Hull.