CHAPTER XIII. 



But if Carter did not altogether relisli Hampshire 

 at first — and possibly Mr. Smith's ways and his own did 

 not always agree — he was very just both as regarded the 

 sport to be had in the Tedworth country, and the good 

 points in the old Squire's character. He has often 

 remarked to myself, " There, sir, Mr. Smith was a very 

 odd man, but then he did a deal o' good. Why, just 

 look at the number of horses he kept, and what he paid 

 to the farmers for corn and hay and straw ; and then 

 we always had a hundred couples of hounds of one 

 sort and another, and see what they cost to keep, and 

 all money to be spent in the country. And then the 

 number of hands he employed about the stables and 

 kennels and gardens. Why, sir, he kept all the people 

 in Tedworth in some way or another, and all through 

 the winter there were large coppers full of soup for the 

 poor twice a week, and clothing, and blankets. Oh, he 



