Explanation: I could not but observe with a great deal of pleasure, the joy that appeared in the countenances of these ancient domestics upon my friend’s arrival at his country seat.

Answer: These note-worthy and striking lines have been quoted from the essay “Sir Roger at Home” by the famous writer of the eighteenth century namely Addison. Here the spectator tells how Sir Roger is honored by his own countrymen. In this statement, Addison complying with dramatic irony satirizes the country squires who are idle and pass their lives floating on the flood of pleasure.

Sir Roger, an unmarried fellow, and the country squire is a proper man. He has a good number of servants and kinds of butter. The servants have been serving Sir Roger for a long period of time. Their hair grows grey in Sir Roger’s service. But they are very much pleased with him when Sir Roger returns to his country, the servants feel very happy. Even the spectator, Sir Roger’s friend can observe it.

Actually here, the writer has severely attacked the country squires whom Sir Roger represents. Sir Roger only wanders in search of pleasure, not in search of labor. He keeps servants and is pleased with their duties to him though he does not do him duties himself. Thus here Addison satirizes the pleasure-seeking class of people. Besides, this compact and aphoristic statement shows Addison’s fine prose style.