An Unsentimental Journey Through Cornwall by Dinah Mulock

John Curgenven had said last night, with his air of tender patronising, half regal, half paternal, which we declared always reminded us of King Arthur -- "Ladies, whenever you settle to go to Kynance, I'll take you."

And sure enough there he stood, at eight in the morning, quite a picture, his cap in one hand, a couple of fishes dangling from the other -- he had brought them as a present, and absolutely refused to be paid -- smiling upon us at our breakfast, as benignly as did the sun. He came to say that he was at our service till 10 A. M.; when he had an engagement.