BEHAVIOUR TO MY FATHER. 63 



maliciously reported at the time to have cordially 

 joined.' 



The same authority goes on to say : ' This was not 

 the only serious contretemps in which Gully was 

 engaged, for he and Mr. Osbaldeston had words on 

 one occasion. The Squire challenged Gully, had him 

 " out," and sent a ball through his hat. " But better 

 through my hat than my head/' said the ex-prize- 

 fighter, as he picked up his headgear and coolly 

 surveyed the bullet-hole, his own taking no effect. ' 



The ex-bruiser, I should think, would know as much 

 about handling a pistol as a cow would a musket ; and 

 in firing it would be as likely to hurt himself as his 

 brave, but injured, little opponent. The causes of the 

 quarrels he had with others I need not mention. It 

 must be sufficient to say that he was of a tyrannical 

 and overbearing disposition, extremely avaricious, 

 and, like men of his class, not over-scrupulously nice 

 in the acquirement of wealth. He knew how to 

 worship the rising sun. Of his quarrel with my 

 father I may perhaps say a word, needless though 

 any explanation is. He contrived to set his son John 

 against him, making a small rift end in an open 

 rupture, which would have been peacefully concluded 

 but for his ' blowing the coal,' aided and abetted in 

 this disgraceful business by his faithful ally, Harry 

 Hill. I must admit with sorrow, not altogether 

 mingled with shame, that to the machinations of this 

 worthy pair the downfall of once glorious Danebury 



