ii4 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



bottled .and rebottled it ; and the result was that it 

 was styled in our district "beyond compare." 



The cork was drawn gently, the neck of the bottle 

 tilted over the long glass ; a gentle gurgle, and then 

 the amber fluid filled it, clear and sparkling, count- 

 less bubbles rising to the surface. 



The squire sipped, his eyes twinkled, then he 

 drained the glass. With a long "Ah!" followed 

 by " Splendid ! " he denoted his intense admiration 

 of the generous liquid. 



Afterwards, at his own dinner-table, that lunch- 

 eon, and especially the cider, was expatiated on 

 fully, and in order to mark his appreciation, one 

 of his daughters was despatched next day to The 

 Coombe. She arrived unattended, delivering with 

 her own kindly hands two brace of birds and a 

 bottle of the squire's old port, with his com- 

 pliments. 



I have given this little instance, as one among 

 many, to show the excellent understanding that 

 existed often between good landowners, gentry 

 of the olden time, and their farmer tenants. If 

 anything needed talking over together, they had 

 opportunity for doing so ; and it was rarely the 



