The fox [antikvár]

The two girls were usually known by their sur-names, Banford and March. They had taken the farm together, intending to work it all by them-selves: that is, they were going to rear chickens, make a living by poultry, and add to this by keep-ing a cow, and raising one or two young beasts. Unfortunately, things did not turn out well. Banford was a small, thin, delicate thing with spectacles. She, however, was the principal inves-tor, for March had iittle or no money. Banford's father, who was a tradesman in Islington, gave his daughter the start, for her health's sake, and be-cause he loved her, and because it did not look as if she would marry. March was more robust. She had learned carpentry and joinery at the evening classes in Islington. She would be the man about the place. They had, moreover, Banford's old grandfather living with them at the start. He had been a farmer. But unfortunately the old man died after he had been at Bailey Farm for a year. Then the two girls were left alone. They were neither of them young: that is, they were near thirty. But they certainly were not old. They set out quite gallantly with their enterprise.