*Zbc ®l& Squire ot Borset' 297 



was not until he had completed his eighty-seventh year 

 that his final summons came. He had been suffering for 

 two or three days from a difficulty in his breathing, but 

 there were no really alarming symptoms, and his general 

 health was good. On the night of March 9th, 1871, after 

 his valet had helped him to bed as usual, he said quietly, 

 ' I shall not be here in a few minutes.' Then, apparently, 

 he fell asleep, and in that sleep passed peacefully away. 

 Before the morning broke the kindly unselfish heart had 

 ceased to beat. The tidings of his death brought 

 mourning into hundreds of households, high and low, 

 and for many a long day to come the memory of the 

 ' Old Squire ' of Langton will be cherished by the 

 Dorset folks who honoured and loved him. 



