eck
resumed:--

"It might be of some convenience at present, however, to let the
building stand as it is. A residence of one kind or other you will want,
particularly as the elections are approaching."

Another nod in silence was all the reply.

"Pepystells estimate is large,--don't you think so?"

He nodded again.

"Nearly seventy thousand pounds! And that does not include the gate
tower, which seems a point for after consideration."

"I remember," muttered Cashel, in a voice that implied anything rather
than a mind attentive to the subject before it.

"Now, it would be as well," said Mr. Kennyfeck, drawing a long breath,
and, as it were, preparing himself for a great effort, "to put a
little order into our affairs. Your first year or two will be costly
ones,--building expenses, equipage, horses, furniture, election charges.
Much of your capital is vested in foreign securities, which it would be
injurious to sell at this moment. Don't you think"--here he changed
his voice to an almost insinuating softness--"don't you think that by
devoting a certain portion of your income,--say a third, or one-half,
perhaps,--for the present, to meet these charges--" He paused, for he
saw from Cashel's occupied look that he was not attending to his words.

"Well--continue," said Roland, affecting to wait for his conclusion.

"I was about to ask, sir," said Kennyfeck, boldly, "what sum would you
deem sufficient for your yearly expenditure?"

"What is the amount of my income?" asked Cashel, bluntly.

"In good years, something above sixteen thousand pounds; in bad ones,
somewhat less than twelve."

"Well, then,--you have the scale of my expenditure at once."

"Not your whole income?" exclaimed Kennyfeck, astonished.

"Even so. I see no earthly reason for hoarding. I do not find that
squandering money is any very high enjoyment; I am certain scraping and
saving it would afford me still less pleasure."

"But there are always casualties demanding extraordinary expense,--a
contested election, for instance."

"I 'll not try it,--I don't intend to enter Parliament."

"When you marry--"

"Perhaps I shall not do that either."

"Well, sums lost at play,--the turf has pressed on many a strong
pocket."

"Play has no fascination for me; I can give it up: I may almost say I
have done so."

"Not without paying a heavy penalty, however," said Kennyfeck, whose
animation showed that he had at last approached the territory he was