it just for their sakes, don't you
know."

"My sister is nothing if not altruistic, you'll find, Calmady," Mr.
Quayle here put in in his most exquisitely amiable manner.

But now encouraged thereto by Lady Calmady, Lord Fallowfeild had
recovered his accustomed serenity and discoursed with renewed
cheerfulness.

"Great loss to this side of the county, my poor friend Denier," he
remarked. "Good fellow Denier--always liked Denier. Stood by him from
the first--so did your son.--No, no, pardon me--yes, to be
sure--excellent claret this--never tasted a better luncheon
claret.--But there was a little prejudice, little narrowness of feeling
about Denier, when he first bought Grimshott and settled down here.
Self-made man, you see, Denier. Entirely self-made. Father was a
clergyman, I believe, and I'm told his grandfather kept an umbrella
shop in the Strand. But a very able, right-minded man Denier, and
wonderfully good-natured fellow, always willing to give you an opinion
on a point of law. Great advantage to have a first-rate authority like
that to turn to in a legal difficulty. Very useful in county business
Denier, and laid hold of country life wonderfully, understood the
obligations of a land-owner. Always found a fox in that Grimshott gorse
of his, eh, Knott?"

"Fox that sometimes wasn't very certain of his country," the doctor
rejoined. "Hailed from the neighbourhood of the umbrella shop perhaps,
and wanted to get home to it."

Lord Fallowfeild chuckled.

"Capital," he said, "very good--capital. Still, it's a great relief to
know of a sure find like that. Keeps the field in a good temper. Yes,
few men whose death I've regretted more than poor Denier's. I miss
Denier. Not an old man either. Shouldn't have let him slip through your
fingers so early, Knott, eh?"

"Oh! that's a question of forestry," John Knott answered grimly. "If
one kept the old wood standing, where would the saplings' chances come
in?"

"Oh! ah! yes--never thought of that before,"--and thinking of it now
the noble lord became slightly pensive. "Wonder if it's unfair my
keeping Shotover so long out of the property?" he said to himself.
"Amusing fellow Shotover, very fond of Shotover--but extravagant
fellow, monstrously extravagant."

"Lord Denier's death gave our host here a seat on the local bench just
at the right moment," the doctor went on. "One man's loss is another
man's opportunity. Rather rough, perhaps, on the outgoing man, but then