I'll go over them again. It's hard to make head or tail of the whole
business. Be here tomorrow at ten. Bring that fellow O'Connell with
you. Also give me a list of some of the more intelligent and
trustworthy of the people and I'll sound them as to the prospects of
opening up work here. Drop them a hint that my interest is solely on
the understanding that this senseless agitation stops."
"I will, sir. To-morrow morning at ten," and Burke started for the
door.
"Oh, and--Burke--I hope you are more discreet with my tenants than
you have been with me?"
"In what way, Mr. Kingsnorth?"
"I trust that you confine your sympathy with them to your FEELINGS
and not give expression to them in words."
"I can't say that I do, Mr. Kingsnorth."
"It would be wiser to in future, Mr. Burke."
"Well, ye see, sir, I'm a MAN first and an AGENT afterwards."
"Indeed?"
"Yes, sir. It's many's the ugly thing I've had to do for your
father, and if a kind word of mine hadn't gone with it, it's
precious little of the estate would be fit to look at to-day, Mr.
Kingsnorth."
"And why not?"
"Do ye remember when Kilkee's Scotch steward evicted two hundred in
one day, sir?"
"I do not."
"Rade about it. It's very enlightenin'."
"What happened?"
"The poor wretched, evicted people burnt down every dwellin' and
tree on the place, sir.
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