had outlived the
infliction of spectacles for reading, was failing him; he had twice
tally-ho'd away a yellow cur-dog, at less than a field's distance.

"No, Mangan, I'll be damned if I go out to make a fool of myself and
the hounds!" he said, when reproached by the Doctor for staying at
home. "The sooner I'm put down like an old hound, the better!"

Dr. Mangan had been equal to the occasion, and had assured Dick that
Bill Kirby was "lost altogether" for want of his counsels, and that
the whole field were saying the Major was the only man to show sport,
and that he knew the way a fox'd run, as well as if he was inside him!

"In company with another old gander, I suppose!" says poor Dick, with
tears in his eyes, being both moved and cheered by his own jest.

The Doctor's presence was partly a reassurance and partly a menace, to
Major Dick. There had been, from time to time, further opportunities
for the investment of the Doctor's "spare ha'pence" in "something
solid and safe, like land." Aunt Bessie Cantwell's money, for
instance, had, on her demise, all come Dr. Mangan's way. There was no
need for the Major to think there was any obligation, he might call it
a mutual advantage, if he liked, anyhow, why shouldn't the money go
where it was wanted? The security was all right.

"Oh yes," says Dick, "that's right enough, and whenever I can come to
terms with the tenants--"

"No hurry!" the Big Doctor would answer; "five per cent. is good
enough for me!"

The Doctor, alone of all Dick's friends, sympathised with Major
Talbot-Lowry in the matter of the tenants, and he condemned the
conduct of his own son, Barty, as heartily as did Dick that of his
nephew, in their dealings with the Coppinger estate.

"'Tis impossible to hold these young fellows," he said, severely,
while he and Dick strolled slowly round the weedy flower garden of
Mount Music, one sunny August afternoon, four years after Larry's
coming of age; "You may be sure that I pointed out to Barty that he
and Larry were playing the deuce with you over the sale, but what
could I do? After all, Barty had to obey the orders he got from his
boss!"

"I know, I know," responded Dick. "My dear fellow, I don't blame
_you_, my own cousin's a different pair of shoes! Richard may
fight it out with the tenants when I'm gone. He'll have to marry
money. Why, my God! If I sold at these fellows' price, the property
would hardly clear itself! At least," Dick cleared his thro