The squire was a justice of the peace but, unless there was some special business on, he seldom took his place on the bench.

He was a jovial man, who took life easily.

He was popular among his neighbours, especially among the poorer classes; for whom he had always a pleasant word, as he rode along; and who, in case of illness, knew that they could always be sure of a supply of soup, or a gill of brandy at Netherstock.
Among those of his own class it was often a matter of wonder how James Stansfield made both ends meet.

The family had, for two or three generations, been of a similar temperament to that of the present holder; men who spent their money freely, and were sure to be present whenever there was a horse race, or a main of cocks to be fought, or a prizefight to come off, within a day's ride of Netherstock.

Gradually, farm after farm had been parted with; and the estate now was smaller, by half, than it had been at the beginning of the century.
James Stansfield had, however, done nothing further to diminish it.
He had a large family, but they could hardly be said to be an expensive one, seeing that little was spent upon the fashion of their clothes; and beyond the fact that the curate in charge of the little church in the village of Netherstock came over, every morning for two or three hours, to give the boys and girls the elements of education, they went very much their own way.