428 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



the watch for the break up of the congregation. 

 As soon as he spied the Squire coming out, he 

 appeared round the corner with a pitcher in his 

 hand, and made for a well that stood a yard or 

 two from the pathway by which the Squire and 

 his family returned home through the park, 

 timing himself to arrive so as to run full butt 

 up against the Squire. He made a dead stop, 

 and put his hand to his hat ; the Squire re- 

 turned the salute and passed on, so that Mr. 

 Humphries did not get the chance of speaking 

 to him, or saying anything he might have 

 wished to say. After dinner he came down to 

 my house. 



"Did the Squire call on you this morning ?" 

 said I. 



" Yes, he did," 



u Oh ! Did he ask you any more questions 

 about me, Humphries ? " 



" Yes, he stopped as he passed the house, 

 and called on me to know if you had taken 

 out the young dogs last week. 



" Indeed, now look here, Humphries, to- 

 morrow is Lady day, the 25th of March, my 



