The Trotter. 135 



specimen of the old Sir Roger de Coverley school, and in his day 

 the Grange was the resort of the best county families. A justice of 

 the peace, a kind landlord, a good neighbour, and in every sense of 

 the word a pattern of the true old English country gentleman, the 

 old squire was beloved and respected by all ; and when the hatch- 

 ment frowned over the massive gothic doorway of the Grange, 

 many an eye was wet and many a heart was heavy, for it told the 

 rich, in mute but eloquent language, that they had lost a true friend 

 and kind companion, and the poor, a charitable and generous 

 protector. 



Sam's father was a soldier, a greater portion of whose early life 

 had been spent abroad, and his tastes possessed little in common 

 with the old country families among whom he now came to reside. 

 He was profligate and dissipated, deeply addicted to play, and his 

 habits were just such as those which quiet country gentlemen would 

 detest and despise. Very changed was the aspect of affairs at the 

 old hall during the time he reigned over it to what they were in the 

 days of the good old squire. The country gentlemen of the oldest 

 and best families gradually withdrew themselves from his companion- 

 ship, and the prestige of the old Grange was fast waning. But 

 there was a certain set who still associated with the colonel. Men 

 whose standing in society was tarnished but not utterly blemished, 

 and for whom the loose, free-and-easy habits which had now full 

 licence at the Grange possessed abundant attractions. They were, 

 however, gentlemen, and the nightly orgies in the colonel's day had 

 not yet sunk to the gross debauchery of those that characterized the 

 reign of his son. The colonel was a widower, with one son our 

 hero. He was killed by a fall from his horse, after having lived at 

 the Grange for nearly a quarter of a century, and Sam, at the age 

 of twenty-five, succeeded to an encumbered estate worth about 

 2000/. per year. 



Sam might have commenced life with the fairest prospects in 

 view j but the school in which he had been brought up was a bad 

 one, and quiet country gentlemen shook their heads when they 

 heard of his accession to the property. Ever since the day he was 



