Page:The New Arcadia (Tucker).djvu/74



old place, I fear, is spoiled for me," Mr. Dowling was saying to his daughter. "My solitude is about to be. invaded. All my life I have fled from the town, and now, in my old age, the city is spreading out its arms towards me. Its surplus population is to be spread over the plains I have loved."

"I believe the new-comers are a very respectable sort of people, father," the daughter replied. "They have been carefully selected. Dr. Courtenay is hopeful they will make good neighbours."

"But I don't want neighbours, my child; I desire to be left alone. Courtenay is a good fellow, and deserves to succeed in this wild venture of his. But I wish he had chosen some other field on which to launch his experiment."

"Is not that the very crime poor Mr. Leicester committed, father? He wanted to keep all the country-side to himself. Is not that the sin of half the landowners today?"