More often, however, their thoughts turned upon local topics--the
holding up of the coach of Sir James Harris or Squire Hamilton by
highwaymen; the affray between the French smugglers and the Revenue
men near Selsea Bill or Shoreham; the delinquencies of the poaching
gangs; the heaviness of the taxes, and the price of corn.

At the age of thirty-three Squire Thorndyke married the daughter
of a neighboring landowner; a son was born and three years later
Mrs. Thorndyke died. Since then the Squire had led a more retired
life; he still went down to smoke his pipe at the inn parlor,
but he gave up his visits to town; and cock fights, and even bull
baiting, were no longer attractions to him. He was known as a good
landlord to the three or four farmers who held land under him; was
respected and liked in the village, where he was always ready to
assist in cases of real distress; was of an easygoing disposition
and on good terms with all his neighbors.

But today he was unusually disturbed in his mind. A messenger had
ridden up two hours before with a letter from London. It was as
follows:

"MY DEAR BROTHER JOHN:

"You will be surprised indeed at this letter from me, who, doubtless,
you suppose to be fighting in India. I have done with fighting,
and am nearly done with life. I was shot in the battle of Buxar,
eighteen months ago. For a time the surgeons thought that it was
going to be fatal; then I rallied, and for some months it seemed
that, in spite of the ball that they were never able to find, I was