46 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. 



ments, of which the guests were expected to 

 partake, as their omitting to do so would have 

 been thought to detract from the hospitality of the 

 mansion. Kind old ladies ! Sometimes their home- 

 made wine was recommended, or if the weather 

 was cold, a glass of old madeira. Chicken, pies 

 and brawn also made their appearance, with a huge 

 cake, and fruit of various kinds, all arranged with 

 the utmost propriety. 



The first time I visited the hall, was in company 

 with my friend and schoolfellow Harry Newton. 

 He was nephew to the ladies I have been describing, 

 and as Lady Blount had no children, it was gene- 

 rally supposed that he would inherit whatever they 

 had to leave. We had quitted London on a fish- 

 ing excursion, and after having passed a few days 

 in the neighbourhood of Oxford, dining there with 

 some old friends in the evening, and plying our rods 

 in the morning, we proceeded to Cleveland Hall, 

 the residence of his aunts, where he promised me 

 some excellent pike fishing in ponds, or rather small 

 lakes, belonging to them. It was on a fine evening 

 towards the end of August, that we drove through 

 the village on our way to the hall, the entrance to 

 which was at one extremity of it. A neat row of 

 alms-houses, the asylum of the aged, having each a 

 small garden in front of them, was the first object 

 w Inch attracted my attention. Just beyond was the 

 village green, surrounded by farm-houses and labou- 



