Some said he would take to his bed and die; some said he would jump into the pond one night, to be known no more in this world.  But he neither jumped into the pond nor took to his bed.  He went round his fields just the same as before—­perhaps a little more mechanically; but still the old routine of daily work was gone through.  Leases, though for a short period, do not expire in a day; after awhile time began to produce its usual effect.  The sharpness of the pain wore off, and he set to work to make the best of matters.  He understood the capacity of each field as well as others understand the yielding power of a little garden.  His former study had been to preserve something like a balance between what he put in and what he took out of the soil.  Now it became the subject of consideration how to get the most out without putting anything in.  Artificial manures were reduced to the lowest quantity and of the cheapest quality, such as was used being, in fact, nothing but to throw dust, literally, in the eyes of other people.  Times were so bad that he could not be expected, under the most favourable circumstances, to consume much cake in the stalls or make much manure in that way.

One by one extra expenditures were cut off.  Gates, instead of being repaired, were propped up by running a pole across.  Labour was eschewed in every possible way.  Hedges were left uncut; ditches were left uncleaned.  The team of horses was reduced, and the ploughing done next to nothing.  Cleaning and weeding were gradually abandoned.  Several fields were allowed to become overrun with grass, not the least attention being paid to them; the weeds sprang up, and the grass ran over from the hedges.  The wheat crop was kept to the smallest area.  Wheat requires more previous labour and care as to soil than any other crop.  Labour and preparation cost money, and he was determined not to spend a shilling more than he was absolutely compelled.  He contrived to escape the sowing, of wheat altogether on some part of the farm, leaving it out of the rotation.  That was a direct infringement of the letter of the agreement; but who was to prove that he had evaded it?  The steward could not recollect the crops on several hundred acres; the neighbouring tenants, of course, knew very well; but although Smith had become unpopular, they were not going to tell tales of him.  He sold everything he dared off the farm, and many things that he did not dare.  He took everything out of the soil that it was possible to take out.  The last Michaelmas was approaching, and he walked round in the warm August sunshine to look at the wheat.