"Gwyn thinks his father is going to have machinery down, and the mine
pumped out."

"Madness! Going to throw all his money away. He sha'n't do it. I
won't have it. What does Mrs Pendarve say?"

"Gwyn says she doesn't like it at all."

"I should think not, sir. It means ruin spelt with a big letter. Why
can't he be contented with his half-pay?"

"I dunno, father. I suppose he feels as if he'd like more."

"Yes, and get less. You never knew me tempted by these wretched mining
schemes, did you, sir?"

"No, father."

"The man's mad. Got a bee in his bonnet. Going to ruin his son's
prospects in life. He sha'n't do it. How can he be so absurd! I'll go
to him as soon as I can move."

"Feel a little easier, father?" said Joe, going to the head of the
couch, and pressing his hand upon his father's brow again.

"Yes, much easier, my boy," said the invalid, placing his hand upon his
son's, and holding it down for a few moments. "Feels cooler, doesn't
it?"

"Ever so much, dad, and not so damp."

"Yes, I feel like a new man again. Thank you, Joe--thank you, my boy.
Haven't been fretful, have I?"

"Oh, just a little, father, of course. Who could help it?"

"I was afraid I had been, Joe. But, as you say, who could help it?
Didn't say anything very cross to you, did I?"

"Oh, no, nothing to signify, dad. But, I say, I am glad you're better."

"Thank you, my boy, thank you," said the Major, drawing his boy's hand
down to his lips and kissing it. "Just like your poor, dear mother, so
calm and patient with me when I am suffering. Joe, my boy, you will
have to be a doctor."

"I? Oh, no, father. I must be a soldier, same as you've been, and Gwyn
is going to be."

"But I meant a military surgeon," said the Major.

"Wouldn't do, father. Why, if I were to tell Ydoll--I mean Gwyn--that I
was going to be a doctor, he would crow over me horribly, and I should
never hear the end of it. He'd christen me jalap or rhubarb, or
something of that sort."

"Ah, well, we shall see, and--who's that coming up to the door?"

Joe looked out from the window, and came back directly.

"The Colonel, dad. Shall I go and let him in?"

"Yes, fetch him in, and stop here and give me a hint now and then if I
get a little irritable. What you have told me makes me feel rather
cross, and I shall have to give him a bit of my mind. I can't let him
go and waste his money like that."

Joe hurried out to the front hall,