'THE SQUIRE.' 255 



off and the heel opened. He will replace the blinkers 

 and fasten the horse's head back with a bearing- 

 rein, thinking all the while that his master is 

 a fool, and that his own way is the only one for a 

 horse.' 



The late Charles Water ton afforded a valuable 

 example of the value of the master's eye. 



When he came into possession of Walton Hall, he 

 determined to give Nature a fair trial against long- 

 established customs. A keen preserver of game, he 

 would not allow his keepers to interfere with the 

 hawks, rooks, crows, magpies, starlings, stoats, weasels, 

 and other ' vermin.' He had to run counter to the 

 prejudices of every man on his estate, not to mention 

 all his neighbours, and soon found out that he must 

 never argue, but give his orders and see that they 

 were obeyed. Every one in his employ knew that 

 every part of his work would come under ; the 

 Squire's' eye in the course of twenty-four hours, but 

 when the master would make his appearance no one 

 knew, except that it was sure to be when he was least 

 expected. 



One of his rules was, that after the day's work 

 the horses should not be tied up, but allowed 

 to walk about at liberty in the stable-yard. One 

 night he suddenly asked me if I would go into the 

 grounds with him. So he lighted a lantern, and we 



