of the able lawyer Daredeville. He
looked on, and rubbed his hands. Warrants were speedily issued by the
baronets of Bullockshed and Tenterhook, for the apprehension of the
individuals who had been seen carrying off the notice-boards, for
larceny, and against a number of others for trespass. There was plenty
of work for Daredeville and his brethren of the robe; but it all ended,
after the flying about of sundry mandamuses and assize trials, in Sir
Roger finding that though Rockville was his, the roads through it were
the public's.

As Sir Roger drove homeward from the assize, which finally settled the
question of these footpaths, he heard the bells in all the steeples of
Great Stockington burst forth with a grand peal of triumph. He closed
first the windows of his fine old carriage, and sunk into a corner; but
he could not drown the intolerable sound. "But," said he, "I'll stop
their picnic-ing. I'll stop their fishing. I'll have hold of them for
trespassing and poaching!" There was war henceforth between Rockville and
Great Stockington.

On the very next Sunday there came literally thousands of the jubilant
Stockingtonians to Rockville. They had brought baskets, and were for
dining, and drinking success to all footpaths. But in the great grove
there were keepers, and watchers, who warned them to keep the path, that
narrow well-worn line up the middle of the grove. "What! were they not to
sit on the grass?"--"No!"--"What! were they not to picnic?"--"No! not
there!"

The Stockingtonians felt a sudden damp on their spirits. But the river
bank! The cry was "To the river bank! There they _would_ picnic." The
crowd rushed away down the wood, but on the river bank they found a whole
regiment of watchers, who pointed again to the narrow line of footpath,
and told them not to trespass beyond it. But the islands! they went over
to the islands. But there too were Sir Roger's forces, who warned them
back! There was no road there--all found there would be trespassers, and
be duly punished.

The Stockingtonians discovered that their triumph was not quite so
complete as they had flattered themselves. The footpaths were theirs, but
that was all. Their ancient license was at an end. If they came there,
there was no more fishing; if they came in crowds, there was no more
picnic-ing; if they walked through the woods in numbers, they must keep
to Indian file, or they were summoned before the county magistrates for
trespass, and were