The descendant of many generations
of broom-squires and deer-stealers, the instinct of sport is strong
within him still, though no more of the king's deer are to be shot in
the winter turnip-fields, or worse, caught by an apple-baited hook
hung from an orchard bough. He now limits his aspirations to hares
and pheasants, and too probably once in his life, 'hits the keeper
into the river,' and reconsiders himself for a while after over a
crank in Winchester gaol. Well, he has his faults; and I have mine.
But he is a thorough good fellow nevertheless; quite as good as I:
civil, contented, industrious, and often very handsome; and a far
shrewder fellow too--owing to his dash of wild forest blood, from
gipsy, highwayman; and what not--than his bullet-headed and flaxen-
polled cousin, the pure South-Saxon of the Chalk-downs. Dark-haired
he is, ruddy, and tall of bone; swaggering in his youth; but when he
grows old, a thorough gentleman, reserved, stately, and courteous as
a prince. Sixteen years have I lived with him hail fellow well met,
and never yet had a rude word or action from him.
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