detriment of their market value, or broke only one leg of a hare at a
time, causing the animal to cry like a tortured child, which some men do
not like; or such as, anxious for fame, claimed dead creatures that
they had not shot, or peopled the next beat with imaginary slain, or
too frequently "wiped an important neighbour's eye," or shot too many
beaters in the legs. Against this evidence, however, he unconsciously
weighed the more undeniable social facts, such as the title of Winlow's
father; Sir James Malden's coverts, which must also presently be shot;
Thomas Brandwhite's position in the financial world; General Pendyce's
relationship to himself; and the importance of the English Church.
Against Foxleigh alone he could put no marks. The fellow destroyed
everything that came within reach with utter precision, and this was
perhaps fortunate, for Foxleigh had neither title, coverts, position,
nor cloth! And the Squire weighed one thing else besides--the pleasure
of giving them all a good day's sport, for his heart was kind.

The sun had fallen well behind the home wood when the guns stood waiting
for the last drive of the day. From the keeper's cottage in the hollow,
where late threads of crimson clung in the brown network of Virginia
creeper, rose a mist of wood smoke, dispersed upon the breeze. Sound
there was none, only that faint stir--the far, far callings of men and
beasts and birds--that never quite dies of a country evening. High above
the wood some startled pigeons were still wheeling, no other life in
sight; but a gleam of sunlight stole down the side of the covert and
laid a burnish on the turned leaves till the whole wood seemed quivering
with magic. Out of that quivering wood a wounded rabbit had stolen and
was dying. It lay on its side on the slope of a tussock of grass,
its hind legs drawn under it, its forelegs raised like the hands of a
praying child. Motionless as death, all its remaining life was centred
in its black soft eyes. Uncomplaining, ungrudging, unknowing, with