This or that farmer had had some sheep die.

Another farmer had bought some new silver-mounted harness, and so on, through all the village gossip.
Often it was the gamekeeper instead of the steward who came in or was sent for.

The squire kept a large head of pheasants for certain reasons, but he was not over-anxious to pay for them.

The keeper grumbled about his wages, that he had no perquisites, and that the shooting season never brought him any fees--unless the squire let the place; he only wished he let it every year.

This, of course, was said aside; to the squire he was hat in hand.
He had to produce his vouchers for food for the pheasants and dogs, and to give particulars why a certain gate on the plantation wanted renewing.