130 AWAKENING OF ENGLAND. 



indication that there was a strain of gipsy 

 blood in the original squatter immigrants from 

 the Forest. 



As the squire and I left his holding together 

 a little incident gave me an insight into my 

 host's character. The besom-maker detained 

 him for a moment, pointing out that the wooden 

 bridge leading to his cottage needed some 

 repair. Without an instant's hesitation this 

 owner agreed to have it done. 



He was as unlike that type of old English 

 squire which Meredith portrays in his Squire 

 Beltham as it is possible for a squire to be. 

 Gentle in demeanour and courtly to all alike, 

 he seemed to walk and drive about as the good 

 shepherd of his parish. Quite indifferent to 

 the religious or political convictions of the 

 cottagers, he has won their esteem not only as 

 a benevolent landlord, but as one who confers 

 upon them the dignity of expecting them to 

 maintain their independence of mind. A 

 scholar at heart and simple in his tastes, he and 

 his wife live in a manor-house that might be 

 mistaken for a country doctor's residence. 

 Instead of stablemen (for one horse served the 

 squire's purpose), you saw a staff of gardeners 

 superintended by his wife, who is a passionate 



