THE SQUIRE 219 



The Priory is a comfortable old-fashioned Eliza- 

 bethan house, with its stables behind, the whole 

 embosomed in lofty oaks of stupendous growth, 

 whose spreading branches harbour myriads of rooks, 

 that keep up a lively clamour about the place. The 

 house is neither too large nor too small; no state 

 rooms " put away," but everything comfortable, 

 commodious, and neat. The estate shows the best 

 of farming, and everything about bears the impress of 

 care and attention. 



As a sportsman, in which it is more our province 



to regard him, he is one of the " never-do-mischief 

 sort," and though a fair rider for a man past the grand 

 climacteric, will always turn out of his line to avoid 

 damage. Living in the country, and observing the 

 effects of seasons and of circumstances, he knows what 

 really is harm and what is not, and never makes 

 unnecessary clamour about trifles ; neither does he 

 sacrifice one sport for the sake of another, or make a 

 business of one to the neglect of the other. He has 

 a fair show of pheasants about the house, and hares, 

 partridges, and pheasants scattered over the estate in 

 sufficient abundance to show ample sport to a man 



