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d appeared that Thorpe Idiot Asylum was her proper home； and so forth。 Nobody seemed to mind in the least。 It was “only the Squire’s way；” they said。3
3 No doubt some of the characteristics of Squire De la Molle and his factotum George in Sir Rider’s Norfolk tale Colonel Quaritch； V。C。； can be traced to Mr。 W。 M。 R。 Haggard and his servant Sam Adcock。 — Ed。
It was the same with the outdoor men； especially with one Samuel Adcock； his factotum； a stout； humorous person whose face was marked all over with small…pox pits。 About once a week Samuel was had in to the vestibule and abused in a most straightforward fashion； but he never seemed to mind。
“I believe； Samuel；” roared my father at him in my hearing； “donkey as you are； you think that no one can do anything except yourself。”
“Nor they can’t； Squire；” replied Samuel calmly； which closed the conversation。
On another occasion there was a frantic row about a certain pheasant which was supposed to have e to its end unlawfully。 My father had ordered this fowl to be stuffed that it might be produced in some pending legal proceedings。 Samuel； who I think at that time was head…keeper and probably knew more about the pheasant’s end than my father； did not pay the slightest attention to these mands。 Then came the row。
“Don’t you argue with me； sir；” said my father to Samuel； who for the last ten minutes had been sitting silent with his eyes fixed upon the ceiling。 “Answer me without further prevarication。 Have you obeyed my orders and had that pheasant stuffed？”
“Lor’！ Squire；” replied Samuel； “you stuffed it yourself a week ago！”
On inquiry it transpired that Samuel； to prevent further plications and awkward questions； had prevailed upon the cook to roast that pheasant and
