188 DICK ROOK. 



history, he felt sufficient interest in him to tell him, 

 that he would give him occasional employment in 

 assisting to protect his game. Nor did his wish 

 to serve Dick rest here. With that goodness of 

 heart for which all his friends love him, Dick's spi- 

 ritual as well as his bodily wants were attended to 

 by him. He was recommended to go to church ; 

 and in order to induce -him to do so, it was hinted 

 to him that if he did not, his neighbours would 

 suppose that he was too wicked to be seen there. 

 Dick's pride, probably, took the alarm, and he 

 constantly attended at church every Sunday 

 evening. He had a room in a small cottage 

 on one of the banks of the sand-stone-lane I 

 have already referred to ; and what with din- 

 ing and supping at the hall, when he pleased, 

 and some pecuniary assistance, Dick got on 

 tolerably well, and expressed great gratitude 

 for the kindness shewn him. He was an especial 

 favourite in the house; and taught the young 

 gentlemen to ride, fly kites, and fish. He looked 

 after the dogs and poachers, and made himself 

 generally useful. 



Having gained all these particulars of my old 

 acquaintance, our party set off on a shooting- 

 excursion, which he, as a matter of course, at- 

 tended. I had now a better opportunity of ob- 

 serving him. He had the same honest, weather- 

 beaten countenance, which had struck me so much 



