If he found that his uncle made a point of it, he would bring his horses to Scroope for a month at Christmas.

Thus he spoke to the head groom,--and thus he spoke also to his aunt, who felt some surprise when he talked of Scotland and his horses.

She had thought that only men of large fortunes shot deer and kept studs,--and perhaps conceived that the officers of the 20th Hussars were generally engaged in looking after the affairs of their regiment, and in preparation for meeting the enemy.
Fred now remained a month at Scroope, and during that time there was but little personal intercourse between him and his uncle in spite of the affectionate greeting with which their acquaintance had been commenced.
The old man's habits of life were so confirmed that he could not bring himself to alter them.

Throughout the entire morning he would sit in his own room alone.

He would then be visited by his steward, his groom, and his butler;--and would think that he gave his orders, submitting, however, in almost every thing to them.