He went out shooting, but not in regular trim.  He would carry his gun across to the Home Farm, and knock over a rabbit on the way; then spend two hours looking at the Alderney cow, the roof of the pig-sty, and the poultry, and presently stroll across a corner of the wood, and shoot a pheasant.  The head of game was kept up for the purpose of letting the mansion from time to time when the squire or his lady thought it desirable to go on the Continent, that the daughter might acquire the graces of travel.  A visit to London in the season, a visit to the seaside, and then home in the autumn to peddle about the estate, made up the year when they did not go abroad.  There was a broad park, noble trees, a great mansion, a stately approach; but within it seemed all littleness of spirit.

The squire’s own private study—­the morning-room of the owner of this fine estate—­was, as previously observed, next the passage that led to the stables, and the one window looked out on a blank wall.  It was in this room that he conducted his business and pleasure, and his art researches.  It was here that he received the famous ‘Round Robin’ from his tenants.  The estate was not very large—­something between 3,000 and 4,000 acres—­but much of it was good and fertile, though heavy land, and highly rented.  Had the squire received the whole of his rents for his own private use he would have been well off as squires go.  But there was a flaw or hitch somewhere in the right, or title, or succession.  No one knew the precise circumstances, because, like so many similar family disputes, when the lawyers were ready, and the case had come before the tribunal, a compromise was arrived at, the terms of which were only known to the tribunal and the parties directly concerned.

But everybody knew that the squire had to pay heavy pensions to various members of another branch of the family; and it was imagined that he did not feel quite fixed in the tenure—­that possibly the case might, under certain circumstances, be heard of again—­since it was noticed that he did not plant trees, or make improvements, or in any way proceed to increase the permanent attractions of the estate.  It seemed as if he felt he was only lodging there.  He appeared to try and get all he could off the place—­without absolute damage—­and to invest or spend nothing.  After all these payments had been made the squire’s income was much reduced, and thus, with all these broad acres, these extensive woods, and park, and mansion, pleasure grounds, game, and so forth, he was really a poor man.  Not poor in the sense of actual want, but a man in his position had, of course, a certain appearance to keep up.  Horses, carriages—­even cooks—­are not to be had for nothing, and are absolutely essential to those who are compelled to maintain any kind of dignity.  Sons with liberal ideas are expensive; a daughter is expensive; a wife who insists on dressing in the fashion is expensive.