Percy, Williams, and Markham usually came over in the
afternoon, and rode back again next morning.
When the press of work was over the boys and their sisters often
cantered over to Canterbury to tea, and sometimes, but more seldom,
to the Jamiesons' estancia. The light-hearted young Englishmen were
naturally more to their fancy than the quiet and thoughtful
Scotchmen. The latter were, however, greatly esteemed by Mr. and
Mrs. Hardy, who perceived in them a fund of quiet good sense and
earnestness.
Upon Sunday morning Mr. Hardy had service, and to this the whole of
their friends generally came. It was held early, so that the
Jamiesons and the Englishmen could ride back to their homes before
the heat of the day, the other three remaining to dine, and
returning in the cool of the evening. Canterbury was entirely a
sheep and cattle farm. The owners had five thousand sheep, and some
hundreds of cattle; but they had comparatively a good deal of time
upon their hands, as stock and sheep farming does not require so
much personal care and supervision as must be bestowed upon
agricultural farms. The Jamiesons, on the contrary, were entirely
occupied in tillage: they had no sheep, and only a few head of
cattle.
Mr. Hardy was remarking upon this one day to Mr.
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