It was only three per cent., but that was an
immense advance upon nothing, and the promise of the future was
great; the shares had gone up nearly to their original value in the
most sanguine days; and the workmen--between prosperity, good
management, the lecture-room at the "Dragon's Head," and the work
among them done by the clerical, as well as the secular, Yolland--
were, not models by any means, but far from the disorderly set they
had been. They did take some pride in decent houses and well-dressed
children, and Harold's plans for the improvement of their condition
were accepted as they never would have been from one whose kindly
sympathy and strength of will did not take them, as it were, captive.
"Among those workmen you feel that he is a born king of men," said
Ben Yolland.
And as Bullock had been bailiff as well as agent, Harry had all the
home-farming matters on his hands, and attended to them like any
farmer, so that it was no wonder that he gave little time to the
meetings for archery practice, which involved the five miles
expedition, and even to our own domestic practice, answering
carelessly, when Eustace scolded him about letting a chance go by,
and his heedlessness of the honour of the family, "Oh, I take a shot
or two every morning as I go out, to keep my hand in."
"You'll get your arrows spoilt in the dew," said Eustace.
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