woodman, cut down
every stick of timber in a little wood near his house, and sold it; and
then set to work to grub up the roots for fires, and cleared it for
tillage. The sum he received for the wood was much more than he
expected, and this he made a note of.

He had a strong body, that could work hard all day, a big hate, and a
mania for the possession of land. And so he led a truly Spartan life,
and everybody in the village said he was mad.

While he led this hard life Sir Charles and Lady Bassett were the
gayest of the gay. She was the beauty and the bride. Visits and
invitations poured in from every part of the country. Sir Charles,
flattered by the homage paid to his beloved, made himself younger and
less fastidious to indulge her; and the happy pair often drove twelve
miles to dinner, and twenty to dine and sleep--an excellent custom in
that country, one of whose favorite toasts is worth recording: "MAY YOU
DINE WHERE YOU PLEASE, AND SLEEP WHERE YOU DINE."

They were at every ball, and gave one or two themselves.

Above all, they enjoyed society in that delightful form which is
confined to large houses. They would have numerous and well-assorted
visitors staying at the house for a week or so, and all dining at a
huge round table. But two o'clock P.M. was the time to see how hosts
and guests enjoyed themselves. The hall door of Huntercombe was
approached by a flight of stone steps, easy of ascent, and about
twenty-four feet wide. At the riding hour the county ladies used to
come, one after another, holding up their riding-habits with one hand,
and perch about this gigantic flight of steps like peacocks, and
chatter like jays, while the servants walked their horses about the
gravel esplanade, and the four-in-hand waited a little in the rear. A
fine champing of bits and fidgeting of thoroughbreds there was, till
all were ready; then the ladies would each put out her little foot,
with charming nonchalance, to the nearest gentleman or groom, with a
slight preference for the grooms, who were more practiced. The man
lifted, the lady sprang at the same time, and into her saddle like a
bird--Lady Bassett on a very quiet pony, or in the carriage to please
some dowager--and away they clattered in high spirits, a regular
cavalcade. It was a hunting county, and the ladies rode well; square
seat, light hand on the snaffle, the curb reserved for cases of
necessity; and, when they had patted the horse on the neck at starting,