The heir discovered another secret which likewise contributed to sober him.  It appeared that the farm, or rather the stock and so on, was really not all his father’s.  His father’s brother had a share in it—­a share of which even the most inquisitive gossips of the place were ignorant.  The brother being the eldest (himself in business as a farmer at some distance) had the most money, and had advanced a certain sum to the younger to enable him to start his farm, more than a generation since.  From that day to this not one shilling of the principal had been repaid, and the interest only partially and at long intervals.  If the interest were all claimed it would now amount to nearly as much as the principal.  The brother—­or, rather, the uncle—­did not make himself at all unpleasant in the matter.  He only asked for about half the interest due to him, and at the same time gave the heir a severe caution not to continue the aforesaid riotous living.  The heir, now quite brought down to earth after his momentary exaltation, saw the absolute necessity of acquiescence.  With a little management he paid the interest—­leaving himself with barely enough to work the farm.  The uncle, on his part, did not act unkindly; it was he who ‘backed’ the heir up at the bank in the matter of the continuation of the loan of the five hundred pounds.  This five hundred pounds the heir had never seen and never would see:  so far as he was concerned it did not exist; it was a mere figure, but a figure for which he must pay.  In all these circumstances there was nothing at all exceptional.

At this hour throughout the width and breadth of the country there are doubtless many farmers’ heirs stepping into their fathers’ shoes, and at this very moment looking into their affairs.  It may be safely said that few indeed are those fortunate individuals who find themselves clear of similar embarrassments.  In this particular case detailed above, if the heir’s circumstances had been rigidly reduced to figures—­if a professional accountant had examined them—­it would have been found that, although in possession of a large farm, he had not got one scrap of capital.

But he was in possession of the farm, and upon that simple fact of possession he henceforth lived, like so many, many more of his class.  He returned to the routine of labour, which was a part of his life.  After awhile he married, as a man of forty might naturally wish to, and without any imputation of imprudence so far as his own age was concerned.  The wife he chose was one from his own class, a good woman, but, as is said to be often the case, she reflected the weakness of her husband’s character.  He now worked harder than ever—­a labourer with the labourers.  He thus saved himself the weekly expense of the wages of a labourer—­perhaps, as labourers do not greatly exert themselves, of a man and a boy.  But while thus slaving with his hands and saving this small sum in wages, he could not walk round and have an eye upon the other men.