When Charles the First was King by J.S. Fletcher

My mother, womanlike, was somewhat disturbed at the idea of having aught to do with law matters, and she looked exceedingly grave when the sheriff's officer announced his mission. But my father, coming home a little later, made light of the matter, and bade the man sit down and eat and drink, and conversed with him on the weather and similar matters, so that the bearer of Rupert Watson's writ presently departed much fortified in mind and body.

"It is the best thing that could have happened," said my father, talking to my mother about the matter, "for now the question will be decided and done with. If the law says the land is mine, mine it will be forever; if 'tis Rupert Watson's, then the law will say so. And perhaps the old enmity between us will die out. I have no wish to live in strife with any man."