He received the news in silence and sat down to eat his breakfast and read the morning paper.

Gall had probably come about some petty summons, or to ask what he should do about the small boys who threw stones at the rooks and broke the church windows.

After finishing his meal and his paper in the leisurely manner peculiar to country gentlemen who have nothing to do, the squire rang the bell, sent for the policeman and went into his study, a small room adjoining the library.
Thomas Gall, constable, was a tall fair man with a mild eye and a cheerful face.

Goodwill towards men and plentiful good living had done their work in eradicating from the good man all that stern element which might have been most useful to him in his career, not to say useful to the State.

Each rolling year was pricked in his leathern belt with a new hole as his heart grew more peaceful and his body throve.