Forest takes it calmly, seems even in a queer way to be attached to his queer master.

But he never misses a drill for anybody or any weather, and when he's out, the under-housemaid "buttles" for him like a lamb.

The fact is, of course, that he's been here for twenty years, and the Squire couldn't get on for a day without him, or thinks he couldn't.

So that his position is, as you may say, strongly entrenched, and counter-attacks are useless.
'The married daughters--Mrs.Gaddesden, who, I think, is an Honourable, and Mrs.Strang--are coming to-morrow to see their brother before he goes into camp.

The Squire doesn't want them at all.