Chapter 12 Summary

The peace that has reigned in Skedale House is about to be shattered. Dr. Farnon, who is not good with money, assigns Tristan to take care of the accounting on the upcoming receipt day. All the bills for the locals and farm owners have gone out, and the next day they are expected to drop off their payments. Tristan agrees to take this job, confident that he can do it without any problems. Tristan is supposed to collect the money, write down the transaction in the receipt book, transfer the information to the ledger, and mark the bill as paid.

Receipt day arrives, and Tristan handles himself beautifully. All goes well until the afternoon, when a harried Tristan runs up to Herriot. Tristan has lost the receipt book and has spent two hours searching for it. Herriot tells Tristan that it shouldn't be...