Harold Bindloss

“ I see myself going about the dale like a modern Caliph Haroun al-Raschid, finding out how my people live, and putting wrongs to right, and you my Lady Bountiful, charming away the troubles I can't touch."
"I don't like your Grand Vizier," said Mrs. Grey thoughtfully.
"Craig's a hard man, but he served my uncle well, and manages the estate with stern economy. When we talked over matters yesterday, he gave me something to think about. Lang of Blackdyke's lease falls in next week, but the old man has a traditional right to a renewal—his father and grandfather had Blackdykes." ”

“ Grey lighted his pipe and pondered while he smoked. He imagined he saw how things had gone, and the answers to his tactful questions gave him food for thought. Forsyth used some reserve, and the shepherd's remarks were not very plain, but one could see where their suspicions led. After a time Forsyth got up and looked out.
"You can't see a yard, and there's nothing to stop us going over the Force-crag if we miss the track," he said. "Though the drifts are getting deeper, we'll have to wait." ”

“ The recent summers had been wet and bleak, and he had sold more sheep than was prudent, to pay his debts. In the fell country it is usual for a tenant to take the flocks with the land, and leave them equal in number and condition when his lease runs out. If not, he must pay the difference in value, and Lang could not do so.
"I'll stand for sixty pounds," said Forsyth awkwardly.
"It's mair than I thowt, but it willunt gan far," Lang replied, and added, while Lucy coloured: "You're a canny lad, but scientific farming runs away wi' money, and has browt thee nothing back." ”

“ He went straight down at a venture, plunging through deep drifts and tripping among stones, and knew he was at the bottom when he fell into a beck. This, however, was not much guide, because every hollow has its stream. ”

“ Then another man came out of the driving snow, and stated that they were taking some Herdwicks to Blackdykes—that was, he added, if they could find the hause. Grey went on with them, and, although he could not see the sheep, now and then heard a dog bark. He thought there were two dogs, one guarding each hillside, while the Herdwicks went slowly down the valley.
"It boddered us to get ewes off Swindale moors," the shepherd said. "Lang bought them there, and they wandert back. Noo they're not travelling varra weel. It's t' lambs is leading them; they're hungry for Blackdykes heaf." ”

“ He stopped with a jolt that shook him, but saw that he was getting down among the rocks, and felt the wind less violent. He got his breath easier, and could see a few yards, but it was a keen relief when he found level ground under his feet. Somehow they had come down the hause, and now a safe but narrow path ran along the hillside. For all that, dawn had broken some time before they came down the ghyll by Blackdykes Farm, and Grey was not surprised to note a row of empty traps standing outside a barn. ”

“ That was in Heron Grey's time. I remember he liked to be thought a good landlord."
"We're under his nephew now. He's said to mean well, but his agent is hard."
"Landlords as live somewheres else want nothing but their rent," the shepherd remarked, after draining the flask. "They willunt be boddered. If the farmer gets behind, oot he gans."
"I expect they have their troubles now and then," said Grey. "But if Lang knew the sheep were at Swindale, the agent would surely let him count them in?"
"You'll not ken owd Craig," the shepherd rejoined, and threw out dark hints about the broken wall. ”