It carried very few sheep under its present management; and the herd of Jersey cattle that used to graze it had long since died out.

As for the game, it had almost gone--before the war.

No use, either for business or play! Then--on this early autumn day of 1917--Sir Henry fell to musing on the vast changes coming over England in consequence of the war.

'Who would ever have believed that we--_we_ should put ourselves to school as we have done?
Military service, rations, food-prices, all our businesses "controlled," and now our land looked after! How much of it has come to stay?
Well, it won't affect me much! Ah! is that the Rector ?' For a hundred yards ahead of him he perceived a clerical figure, spare and tall, in a wideawake hat, swinging towards him.

The September sun was westering, and behind the approaching man lay broad stretches of wood, just showing here and there the first bronze and purple signs of autumn.
The Rector, recognizing the solitary rider, waved his hand in welcome, and Sir Henry pulled up.