22 THE GAMEKEEPER AT HOME. 



CHAPTER 11. 



?^i0 Jatnilg ant Caste. 



The interior of the cottage is exquisitely clean ; it has 

 that bright pleasant appearance which is only possible 

 when the housewife feels a pride in her duties, and goes 

 about them with a cheerful heart. Not a speck of- dust 

 can be seen upon the furniture, amongst which is a large 

 old-fashioned sofa : the window panes are clear and trans- 

 parent — a certain sign of loving care expended on the 

 place, as on the other hand dirty windows are an indica- 

 tion of neglect, so much so that the character of the 

 cottager may almost be guessed from a glance at her 

 glass. The keeper's wife is a buxom vivacious dame, 

 whose manners, from occasional contact with the upper 

 ranks — the ladies from the great house sometimes look in 

 for a few minutes to chat with so old a servant of the 

 family — are above what are usually found in her station. 

 She receives her callers — and they are many — with a 

 quiet, respectful dignity : desirous of pleasing, yet quite at 

 her ease. 



Across the back of the sofa there lies a rug of some 



