It was, however, the squire's hobby, and it must be admitted that he had very high authority upon his side.

Some sensitive persons rather shrank from seeing him handle these painted panels with those peculiar scratchy finger-nails; it set their teeth on edge.

He gave considerable sums of money for many of these paintings, the only liberality he permitted himself, or was capable of.
His own room or study was almost bare, and the solitary window looked on a paved passage that led to the stables.

There was nothing in it but a large table, a bookcase, and two or three of the commonest horsehair chairs; the carpet was worn bare.

He had selected this room because there was a door close by opening on the paved passage.