earance among them on the 10th of this month. Of
course, I had heard that Chiltern has the Brake, and I
have heard also that he is doing it uncommonly well. Tell
him that I have hardly seen a hound since the memorable
day on which I pulled him out from under his horse in the
brook at Wissindine. I don't know whether I can ride a
yard now. I will get to you on the 4th, and will remain if
you will keep me till the 9th. If Chiltern can put me up
on anything a little quieter than Bonebreaker, I'll go out
steadily, and see how he does his cubbing. I may, perhaps,
be justified in opining that Bonebreaker has before this
left the establishment. If so I may, perhaps, find myself
up to a little very light work.

Remember me very kindly to him. Does he make a good nurse
with the baby?

Yours, always faithfully,

PHINEAS FINN.

I cannot tell you with what pleasure I look forward to
seeing you both again.

The next few days went very heavily with him. There had, indeed,
been no real reason why he should not have gone to Harrington Hall
at once, except that he did not wish to seem to be utterly homeless.
And yet were he there, with his old friends, he would not scruple
for a moment in owning that such was the case. He had fixed his day,
however, and did remain in London till the 4th. Barrington Erle and
Mr. Ratler he saw occasionally, for they were kept in town on the
affairs of the election. The one was generally full of hope; but the
other was no better than a Job's comforter. "I wouldn't advise you to
expect too much at Tankerville, you know," said Mr. Ratler.

"By no means," said Phineas, who had always disliked Ratler, and had
known himself to be disliked in return. "I expect nothing."

"Browborough understands such a place as Tankerville so well! He has
been at it all his life. Money is no object to him, and he doesn't
care a straw what anybody says of him. I don't think it's possible to
unseat him."

"We'll try at least," said Phineas, upon whom, however, such remarks
as these cast a gloom which he could not succeed in shaking off,
though he could summon vigour sufficient to save him from showing
the gloom. He knew very well that comfortable words would be spoken
to him at Harrington Hall, and that then the gloom would go. The
comforting words of his friends would mean quite as little as the
discourtesies of Mr. Ratler. He understood that thoroughly, and felt