There was little or no hot-gospel here; men still shook their heads sympathetically over the old days and the old faith, which indeed had ceased to be the faith of all scarcely twenty years ago; and it appeared to the most of them that the proper faith of the Quality, since they had before their eyes such families as the Babingtons, the Fentons, and the FitzHerberts, was that to which their own squire was about to say good-bye.

It was known, too, publicly by now, that Mr.Robin was gone away for Easter, since he would not follow his father.

So the crowd waited; the dogs sunned themselves; and the gunner sat on a wall.
* * * * * The bells ceased at nine o'clock, and upon the moment, a group came round the churchyard wall, down from the field-path and the stile that led to the manor.
First, walking alone, came the squire, swiftly and steadily.

His face was flushed a little, but set and determined.

He was in his fine clothes, ruff and all; his rapier was looped at his side, and he carried a stick.