“It’s an extravagant price,” the agent remarked.  “They’ll want a check and your account is getting very low.”

“You’ll have to cut down expenses, then,” Osborn answered haughtily.  “This is not a matter about which I need your advice.”

Hayes shrugged and Osborn nodded to the auctioneer when Kit made another bid.  He felt hot and savage and wanted a drink, but could not leave the stand.  Askew meant to humiliate him and he must hold out.  He was the most important man in the neighborhood, and must not be beaten by a small farmer.  For all that, the sum he would have to pay would be a drain.

After the next bid the auctioneer looked at Kit, who smiled and shook his head.

“Mr. Osborn takes the lot,” the auctioneer remarked.  “He has paid a high price to help a good object, but I think we all hope the next lambing season will give him his money back.”

Osborn’s savage satisfaction was spoiled by a chilling doubt and he went off to look for Hayes.

“Give the fellow a check for the sheep on the estate account,” he said.

“How much?” Hayes asked, and looked thoughtful when Osborn told him.

“There are a number of bills to meet and we’ll have no money coming in until term-day.”

“Can’t you put off the bills?”

“I think not,” Hayes answered, meaningly.  “It mightn’t be prudent.  Our credit is not too good.”

Osborn was silent for a moment or two.  “Very well,” he said.  “I’ll try to sell the sheep to somebody who’ll give me what they’re really worth.  Come over to-morrow and we’ll talk about the new mortgage.”

Then he went back, moodily, to join the judges for the driving-match.

CHAPTER IV

THE FLOOD

On the morning after the show, Osborn walked up and down the terrace, waiting moodily for Hayes.  It was a rash extravagance to buy the sheep and he blamed Kit for this.  The fellow had gone on bidding in order to force him to pay a high price; besides, the money would help an object Osborn did not approve.  There were enough chapels in the neighborhood and any legislation that interfered with the landlords’ privileges got its warmest support at such places.

The sum he had spent was not remarkably large and he had cut his loss by selling the flock to a farmer at their market price, but this was about half what he had given and he had some urgent debts.  Although he had hoped to hold out until term-day, when the payment of rents would ease the strain on his finances, he must have money and did not know where it could be got by prudent means.