In this shadow the squire and the statesman were sitting.

Their heads were uncovered, their long clay pipes in their hands; and, with a placid complacency, they were watching the score of busy men before them.

Many had come long distances to try their skill against each other; for the shearings at Latrigg's were a pastoral game, at which it was a local honor to be the winner.

There the young statesman who could shear his six score a day found others of a like capacity, and it was Greek against Greek at Up-Hill shearing that afternoon.
"I had two thousand sheep to get over," said Latrigg, "but they'll be bare by sunset, squire.

That isn't bad for these days.