For a hound, mark you, hath nothing mechanical in his nature.

He is a gentleman all over,--brave against equal and stranger, forbearing to the small and defenceless, true in poverty and need where he loveth, stern and ruthless where he hateth, and despising thieves, hildings, and the vulgar as much as e'er a gold spur in King Edward's court! Oh, certes, your best gentleman is the best hound!" "You moralize to-day; and I know not how to gainsay you," returned Sibyll, as the dogs, reluctantly beaten off, retired each from each, snarling and reluctant, while a small black cur, that had hitherto sat unobserved at the door of a small hostelrie, now coolly approached and dragged off the bone of contention.

"But what sayst thou now?
See! see! the patient mongrel carries off the bone from the gentleman-hounds.

Is that the way of the world ?" "Pardie! it is a naught world, if so, and much changed from the time of our fathers, the Normans.

But these Saxons are getting uppermost again, and the yard measure, I fear me, is more potent in these holiday times than the mace or the battle-axe." The Nevile paused, sighed, and changed the subject: "This house of thine must have been a stately pile in its day.