rhaps in the opposite sides of
the county. Will is a particular favourite of all the young heirs, whom
he frequently obliges with a net that he has weaved, or a setting-dog
that he has made himself. He now and then presents a pair of garters of
his own knitting to their mothers or sisters; and raises a great deal of
mirth among them, by enquiring as often as he meets them how they wear!
These gentlemen-like manufactures and obliging little humours make Will
the darling of the country.

Sir Roger was proceeding in the character of him, when we saw him make
up to us with two or three hazel-twigs in his hand that he had cut in
Sir Roger's woods, as he came through them, in his way to the house.
I was very much pleased to observe on one side the hearty and sincere
welcome with which Sir Roger received him, and on the other, the secret
joy which his guest discover'd at sight of the good old Knight. After
the first salutes were over, Will desired Sir Roger to lend him one of
his servants to carry a set of shuttle-cocks he had with him in a little
box to a lady that lived about a mile off, to whom it seems he had
promised such a present for above this half year. Sir Roger's back
was no sooner turned but honest Will began to tell me of a large
cock-pheasant that he had sprung in one of the neighbouring woods,
with two or three other adventures of the same nature. Odd and uncommon
characters are the game I looked for, and most delight in; for which
reason I was as much pleased with the novelty of the person that talked
to me, as he could be for his life with the springing of a pheasant, and
therefore listen'd to him with more than ordinary attention.

In the midst of his discourse the bell rung to dinner, where the
gentleman I have been speaking of had the pleasure of seeing the huge
jack, he had caught, served up for the first dish in a most sumptuous
manner. Upon our sitting down to it he gave us a long account how he had
hooked it, played with it, foiled it, and at length drew it out upon the
bank, with several other particulars that lasted all the first course.
A dish of wild fowl that came afterwards furnished conversation for the
rest of the dinner, which concluded with a late invention of Will's for
improving the quail-pipe.

Upon withdrawing into my room after dinner, I was secretly touched with
compassion towards the honest gentleman that had dined with us; and
could not but consider, with a great deal of concern, how