He also had thought of the stableful of horses which had belonged to himself when he came of age; and of the much more humble position which his son would have to fill than that which _his_ father had prepared for him.
He thought of this, and was sad enough, though he had sufficient spirit to hide from his friends around him the fact, that the Honourable John's arrow had not been discharged in vain.
"He shall have Champion," said the father to himself.

"It is time for me to give it up." Now Champion was one of the two fine old hunters which the squire kept for his own use.

And it might have been said of him now, at the period of which we are speaking, that the only really happy moments of his life were those which he spent in the field.

So much as to its being time for him to give up..