CHAPTER VIL 



THE LAIRD OF WALLHOUSE. 



1866-1869. 



The name of Mr Charles Kamsay's successor in 

 the mastership has already occurred frequently in 

 these pages. Almost ever since he had come into 

 possession of the family estate of Wallhouse, 

 Colonel Gillon had led the life of an active country 

 gentleman, and although hunting regularly with 

 the pack, devoted much of his time and attention 

 to the prosperity of the district in which his 

 property lay. Thus was there represented in the 

 person of the new master the welfare of a con- 

 siderable part of the country hunted as well as 

 that of the Hunt, a circumstance which could 

 not fail to build up friendly relations between 

 those whose land was ridden over and those who 

 followed hounds ; while Colonel Glllon's own kind- 

 ness of heart and natural charm of manner formed 

 the copestone, so to speak, of this structure of 

 good feeling. 



Colonel Gillon was a keen fox-hunter, and being 

 a bold horseman, and having an intimate know- 



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