d formed a bright contrast with the dull
white clods. Crossing the meadow, and startling the wood-pigeons,
our friend scaled the grey walls, putting his foot in a hole left
for the purpose. Dark moss lined the interstices between the
irregular and loosely placed stones. Above, on the bank, and
greener than the grass, grew moss at the roots of ash-stoles and
wherever there was shelter. Broad, rank, green arum leaves crowded
each other in places. Red stalks of herb-robert spread open. The
weather-beaten man gathered a white wild violet from the shelter of
a dead dry oak-leaf, and as he placed it in his buttonhole, paused
to listen to the baying of hounds. Yowp! yow! The cries echoed from
the bank and filled the narrow beechwood within. A shot followed,
and then another, and a third after an interval. More yowping. The
grey-brown head of a rabbit suddenly appeared over the top of the
bank, within three yards of him, and he could see the creature's
whiskers nervously working, as its mind estimated its chances of
escape. Instead of turning back, the rabbit made a rush to get
under an ash-stole, where was a burrow. The yowping went slowly
away; the beeches rang again as if the beagles were in cry. Two
assistant-keepers were working the outskirts, and shooting the
rabbits which sat out in the brushwood, and so were not to be
captured by nets and ferrets. The ground-game was strictly kept
down; the noise was made by half a dozen puppies they had with
them. Passing through the ash-stoles, and next the narrow
beechwood, the grey man walked across the open park, and after
awhile came in sight of Thardover House. His steps were directed
to the great arched porch, beneath which the village folk boasted
a waggon-load could pass. The inner door swung open as if by
instinct at his approach. The man who had so neighbourly opened the
gate to the dealer in the trap was James Thardover, the owner of
the property. Historic as was his name and residence, he was
utterly devoid of affectation--a true man of the land.

II.--NEW TITLE-DEEDS

Deed, seal, and charter give but a feeble hold compared with that
which is afforded by labour. James Thardover held his lands again by
right of labour; he had taken possession of them once more with
thought, design, and actual work, as his ancestors had with the
sword. He had laid hands, as it were, on every acre. Those who work,
own. There are many who receive rent who do not own; they are
proprietors