Country-house life in Ireland and Scotland is almost identical with that in England, except that, in the former especially, there is generally less money.  Scotland has of late years become so much the fashion, land has risen so enormously in value, and properties are so very large, that some of the establishments, such as those at Drumlanrig, Dunrobin, Gordon Castle and Floors, the seats respectively of the dukes of Buccleuch, Sutherland, Richmond and Roxburghe, are on a princely scale.  The number of wealthy squires is far fewer than in England.  It is a curious feature in the Scottish character that notwithstanding the radical politics of the country—­for scarcely a Conservative is returned by it—­the people cling fondly to primogeniture and their great lords, who, probably to a far greater extent than in England, hold the soil.  The duke of Sutherland possesses nearly the whole of the county from which he derives his title, whilst the duke of Buccleuch owns the greater part of four.

Horses are such a very expensive item that a large stable is seldom found unless there is a very large income, for otherwise the rest of the establishment must be cut down to a low figure.  Hunting millionaires keep from ten to twenty, or even thirty, hacks and hunters, besides four or five carriage-horses.  Three or four riding-horses, three carriage-horses and a pony or two is about the usual number in the stable of a country gentleman with from five to six thousand pounds a year.  The stable-staff would be coachman, groom and two helpers.  The number of servants in country-houses varies from seven or eight to eighty, but probably there are not ten houses in the country where it reaches so high a figure as the last:  from fifteen to twenty would be a common number.

There are many popular bachelors and old maids who live about half the year in the country-houses of their friends.  A gentleman of this sort will have his chambers in London and his valet, whilst the lady will have her lodgings and maid.  In London they will live cheaply and comfortably, he at his club and dining out with rich friends, she in her snug little room and passing half her time in friends’ houses.  There is not the slightest surrender of independence about these people.  They would not stay a day in a house which they did not like, but their pleasant manners and company make them acceptable, and friends are charmed to have them.

One of the special recommendations of a great country-house is that you need not see too much of any one.  There is no necessary meeting except at meals—­in many houses then even only at dinner—­and in the evening.  Many sit a great deal in their own rooms if they have writing or work to do; some will be in the billiard-room, others in the library, others in the drawing-room:  the host’s great friend will be with him in his own private room, whilst the hostess’s will pass most of the time in that lady’s boudoir.[A]

[Footnote A:  Perhaps the most charming idea of a country-house was that conceived by Mr. Mathew of Thomastown—­a huge mansion still extant, now the property of the count de Jarnac, to whom it descended.  This gentleman, who was an ancestor of the celebrated Temperance leader, probably had as much claret drunk in his house as any one in his country; which is saying a good deal.