296 PARTRIDGE MANORS AND 



mixed shooting and capital fishing, with that 

 cottage, is not dear at fifty pounds a year, is it, 

 sir?' 



" ' I should think not, indeed. Mr Lenox is one 

 of my oldest friends. I must go and call on him,' 

 which I did. 



" I was told, on asking at the door, that he was 

 out fishing, but would be home to dinner at six 

 o'clock. 



" ' Give him this card,' I said to the respectable 

 old servant who had answered the ring, ' and tell 

 him, I shall be here at six to dine with him. Is 

 he married ? ' 



" ' Oh dear no, sir, master is a single gentleman. 

 I don't think he cares much about the women folk,' 

 she added, in her quaint Cornish way. 



" The time hung heavily on my hands that day, 

 so impatient was I to see my dear, valued old 

 friend, and half past five saw me walking up the 

 well-kept walk towards his house. 



" As I approached, a figure issued from the porch, 

 surrounded by four or five beautiful setters. 



"A fine, handsome-looking man of three or four 

 and forty advanced towards me, but quite grey ; 

 there was no mistaking, though, his honest, beam- 

 ing, well-known face. 



" ' Frederick, old fellow,' said he, grasping me by 



