“I knew you would sympathize with this plan, and with another which I have also in my head—­to build new cottages for all the agricultural labourers on the estate.  It is shameful that while the proprietors’ houses, and the farmers’ houses, have been enlarged and improved so much during the last century, the cottage of the hind and the cotter should still be of the same miserable description; the partitions to be made at the labourer’s own expense, and too generally done by the enclosed beds, which are not right things in a sanitary point of view.  The money value of the rent is increased, too, for so many weeks of reaping in harvest time is worth more now than a century back.  I have got plans for the cottages which I wanted you to look at this morning; I think they will do.”

“You must let Peggy see them; she was brought up in one of those cottages you speak of, and will know all their deficiencies.  It will set a good example to the neighbourhood,” said Jane.

“And, after all, it will not cost me more to build these cottages, and make thirty families more comfortable and more self-respecting, than it would to enlarge Cross Hall, as Mr. Chalmers advises me strongly to do—­by building a new wing and adding a conservatory in the place of your modest little greenhouse.  Every one knows I have come to the estate with money in hand instead of encumbrances to clear off, as so many proprietors have, so they can think of my spending it in nothing but in increasing my own comfort or importance.  Another reason for my trying these experiments and improvements is to see if we cannot keep some of our best people in Scotland.  Our picked men, and many of our picked women, emigrate to America and Australia.  The recent emigration to Australia since the gold-diggings were discovered has been enormous.  It must hurt the general character of the nation that we lose our best and our ablest as they grow up.  I confess that if I were in their place I should do the same; but let my experiment succeed, it may be imitated.”

“Whether it is imitated or not, it is right to try it.  I will watch the result with the greatest interest.  You know nothing could give me greater pleasure than your success in such a noble work,” said Jane, with sparkling eyes.  “My uncle’s will is to turn out no mistake.”

“We must go over together the names of those I mean to give the allotments to.  You know the people better than I do,” said Francis.

“It is not fair that the commonages should be enclosed to enlarge great estates; the waste lands should belong to the nation, and be given to the class that needs them most, and that could, perhaps, make most of them,” said Jane.  “You are bringing my uncle’s theories into practice.  If it were not for Elsie I should have nothing to regret in the settlement that my uncle made; and, perhaps, there is something brighter in store for her.”

“Has she none of the alleviations that you are so good as to make the very most of?” asked Francis.