The squire was greatly ruffled at breakfast that morning.

He was too much of an Englishman to bear insult patiently, and he considered that he had been personally insulted in the outrage offered to his recent donation to the parish.

His feelings, too, were hurt as well as his pride.

There was something so ungrateful in the whole thing, just after he had taken so much pains, not only in the resuscitation but the embellishment of the stocks.

It was not, however, so rare an occurrence for the squire to be ruffled as to create any remark.