The Squire Heron of that time never rode behind less than four horses, and once, when he was high sheriff, he rode to meet the judges with six.

It was open house to every poor man in the place, and no wanderer was ever turned from the door.

The squire of my father's time was the county member, and the day he was elected there were two hogsheads of port and two of brandy broached on the lawn in front of the terrace; and for a week afterwards there was scarcely a sober man in the town for miles round.

He was master of the hounds, and the hunt breakfasts and the hunt balls were more splendid than anything else of that kind in the kingdom; in fact, people used to come from all parts of the kingdom to attend them.

Yes, the Herons made Herondale famous, as you may say, sir." He paused and shook his head, and Stafford remained silent: he was too wise to break in upon the narrative.