“A heavy task, I fear,” said Easel, “from what I have observed since I came to the country.”

“The public opinion I speak of will force them into a knowledge of their duties.  At present they disregard public opinion, because it is too feeble to influence them; and consequently they feel neither fear nor shame.  So long as the landlords and the people come together as opposing or antithetical principles, it is not to be supposed that the country can prosper.”

“But how will you guide or restrain the landlord in estimating the value of his property?” inquired Mr. Clement.  “Here are two brothers, for instance, each possessed of landed property; one is humane and moderate, guided both by good sense and good feeling; this man will not overburthen his tenant by exacting an oppressive rent.  The other, however, is precisely the reverse of him, being naturally either rapacious or profligate, or perhaps both; he considers it his duty to take as much out of the soil as he can, without ever thinking of the hardships which he inflicts upon the tenant.  Now, how would you remedy this, and prevent the tenant from becoming the victim either of his rapacity or profligacy?”

“Simply by taking from him all authority in estimating the value of his own property.

“But how?” said Clement, “is not that an invasion of private right?”

“No; it is nothing more than a principle which transfers an unsafe privilege to other hands in order to prevent its abuse.”

“But how would you value the land?”

“I am not at this moment about to legislate for it; but I think, however, that it would be by no means difficult to find machinery sufficiently simple and effective for the purpose.  I am clearly of opinion that there should, be a maximum value on all land, beyond which, unless for special purposes—­such, for instance, as building—­no landlord ought to be permitted to go.  This would prevent an incredible amount of rack-renting and oppression on the one hand; and of poverty, revenge, and bloodshed on the other.  Where is the landlord now who looks to the moral character or industrial habits of a tenant?  Scarcely one.  On the contrary, whoever bids highest, or bribes highest, is sure to be successful, without any reference to the very qualities which, in a tenant, ought to be considered as of most importance.”

“I have now,” said Easel, “made myself acquainted with the condition and management of the Castle Cumber property; and, truth to tell, I am not surprised at the frightful state of society upon it.  M’Clutchy is the type of too numerous a class, and his son is a most consummate scoundrel.  Why my—­why Lord Cumber should have appointed him to his agency I cannot imagine.”

“But I can,” said Harman; “that which has appointed many a scoundrel like him—­necessity on the part of the landlord, and a desire to extend his political influence in the county.”

“He could not have gone a more successful way about it, however,” observed Easel.