Hillcrist. Have the goodness not to charge me with idleness.  Dawker—­where is he?——­[He shows the bureau] When you do the drudgery of your works as thoroughly as I do that of my estate——­ Is it true about the Centry?

Hornblower.  Gospel true.  If ye want to know, my son Chearlie is buyin’ it this very minute.

Mrs. H. [Turning with a start] What do you say?

Hornblower.  Ay, he’s with the old lady she wants to sell, an’ she’ll get her price, whatever it is.

Hillcrist. [With deep anger] If that isn’t a skin game, Mr. Hornblower, I don’t know what is.

Hornblower.  Ah!  Ye’ve got a very nice expression there.  “Skin game!” Well, bad words break no bones, an’ they’re wonderful for hardenin’ the heart.  If it wasn’t for a lady’s presence, I could give ye a specimen or two.

Mrs. H. Oh!  Mr. Hornblower, that need not stop you, I’m sure.

Hornblower.  Well, and I don’t know that it need.  Ye’re an obstruction—­the like of you—­ye’re in my path.  And anyone in my path doesn’t stay there long; or, if he does, he stays there on my terms.  And my terms are chimneys in the Centry where I need ’em.  It’ll do ye a power of good, too, to know that ye’re not almighty.

Hillcrist. And that’s being neighbourly!

Hornblower.  And how have ye tried bein’ neighbourly to me?  If I haven’t a wife, I’ve got a daughter-in-law.  Have Ye celled on her, ma’am?  I’m new, and ye’re an old family.  Ye don’t like me, ye think I’m a pushin’ man.  I go to chapel, an’ ye don’t like that.  I make things and I sell them, and ye don’t like that.  I buy land, and ye don’t like that.  It threatens the view from your windies.  Well, I don’t lie you, and I’m not goin’ to put up with your attitude.  Ye’ve had things your own way too long, and now ye’re not going to have them any longer.

Hillcrist. Will you hold to your word over those cottages?

Hornblower.  I’m goin’ to have the cottages.  I need them, and more besides, now I’m to put up me new works.

Hillcrist. That’s a declaration of war.

Hornblower.  Ye never said a truer word.  It’s one or the other of us, and I rather think it’s goin’ to be me.  I’m the risin’ and you’re the settin’ sun, as the poet says.

Hillcrist. [Touching the bell] We shall see if you can ride rough-shod like this.  We used to have decent ways of going about things here.  You want to change all that.  Well, we shall do our damnedest to stop you. [To fellows at the door] Are the Jackmans still in the house?  Ask them to be good enough to come in.

Hornblower. [With the first sign of uneasiness] I’ve seen these people.  I’ve nothing more to say to them.  I told ’em I’d give ’em five pounds to cover their moving.

Hillcrist. It doesn’t occur to you that people, however humble, like to have some say in their own fate?