He even regrets
sometimes that he had not been born a few centuries earlier, when
England was itself and had its peculiar manners and customs. As
he lives at some distance from the main road, in rather a lonely
part of the country, without any rival gentry near him, he has
that most enviable of all blessings to an Englishman--an
opportunity of indulging the bent of his own humor without
molestation. Being representative of the oldest family in the
neighborhood, and a great part of the peasantry being his
tenants, he is much looked up to, and in general is known simply
by the appellation of `The Squire'--a title which has been
accorded to the head of the family since time immemorial. I think
it best to give you these hints about my worthy old father, to
prepare you for any eccentricities that might otherwise appear
absurd."
* Peacham's Complete Gentleman, 1622.
We had passed for some time along the wall of a park, and at
length the chaise stopped at the gate. It was in a heavy,
magnificent old style, of iron bars fancifully wrought at top
into flourishes and flowers. The huge square columns that
supported the gate were surmounted by the family crest. Close
adjoining was the porter's lodge, sheltered under dark fir trees
and almost buried in shrubbery.
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