"The trustees are the representative of our family and the rector of
the parish--not Mr. Touchett (this is only a district), but poor old
Mr. Linton at Avonbridge, who is barely able to sign the papers, so that
practically it all comes to me."
"Extremely fortunate for the objects of the charity."
"I wish it were so; but if it could only be made available in such a
cause as ours, I am sure my good namesake's intentions would be much
better carried out than by binding these poor girls down to their
cushions. I did once ask about it, but I was told it could only be
altered by Act of Parliament."
"Great facilities have of late been given," said Mr. Mauleverer, "many
old endowments have most beneficially extended their scope. May I ask
where the land in question is?"
"It is the level bit of meadow just by the river, and all the slope down
to the mouth; it has always been in our hands, and paid rent as part of
the farm. You know how well it looks from the garden-seat, but it always
grieves me when people admire it, for I feel as if it were thrown away."
"Ah! I understand. Perhaps if I could see the papers I could judge of
the feasibility of some change."
Rachel gladly assented, and knowing where to find the keys of the strong
box, she returned in a short space with a parcel tied up with, red tape,
and labelled "Barnaby's Bargain."
"I have been thinking," she exclaimed, as she came in, "that that piece
of land must have grown much more valuable since this rent was set on
it! Fourteen pounds a year, why we never thought of it; but surely
in such a situation, it would be worth very much more for building
purposes."
"There can be no doubt. But your approach, Miss Curtis?"
"If it is a matter of justice to the charity, of course that could not
be weighed a moment. But we must consider what is to be done. Get the
land valued, and pay rent for it accordingly? I would give it up to its
fate, and let it for what it would bring, but it would break my mother's
heart to see it built on."
"Perhaps I had better take the papers and look over them. I see they
will need much consideration."
"Very well, that will be the best way, but we will say nothing about
it till we have come to some conclusion, or we shall only startle and
distress my mother. After all, then, I do believe we have the real
income of the F. U. E. E. within our very hands! It might be ten times
what it is now."
Rachel was in higher spirits than ever. To oblige the estate to pay £140
a year to the F. U. E. E. was beyond measure delightful, and though it
would be in fact only taking out of the family pocket, yet that was a
pocket she could not otherwise get at. The only thing for which she was
sorry was that Mr. Mauleverer had an appointment, and could not come
with her to call on Mr. Mitchell; but instead of this introduction, as
she had sworn herself to secrecy rather than worry her mother till the
ways and means were matured, she resolved, by way of compensation,
upon going down to impart to Ermine Williams this grave reformation of
abuses, since this was an afternoon when there was no chance of meeting
the Colonel.