usingly.

"He reckons the loss at something like six thousand a year," said
Grounsell.

"Not the half of it, doctor; the estate, when I succeeded to it, was
in a ruinous condition. A pauper and rebellious tenantry holding their
tenures on nominal rents, and either living in open defiance of all law,
or scheming to evade it by a hundred subterfuges. Matters are somewhat
better; but if so, it has cost me largely to make them so. Disabuse his
mind, I beg you, of this error. His loss was at least not so heavy as he
reckoned."

"Faith, I'll scarcely venture on so very delicate a theme," said
Grounsell, dryly. "I 'm not quite so sure how he 'd take it."

"I see, doctor," said Onslow, laughing, "that his duelling tastes have
impressed you with a proper degree of respect. Well, let us think of
something more to the purpose than rectifying a mere mistaken opinion.
How can we serve him? What can be done for him?"

"Ruined gentlemen, like second-hand uniforms, are generally sent to the
colonies," said Grounsell; "but Dalton is scarcely fit for export."

"What if we could get him appointed a magistrate in one of the West
India Islands?"

"New rum would finish him the first rainy season."

"Is he fit for a consulship?"

"About as much as for Lord Chancellor. I tell you the man's pride would
revolt at anything to which a duty was annexed. Whatever you decide on
must be untrammelled by any condition of this kind."

"An annuity, then, some moderate sum sufficient to support them in
respectability," said Onslow; "that is the only thing I see for it, and
I am quite ready to do my part, which, indeed, is full as much a matter
of honor as generosity."

"How will you induce him to accept it?"

"We can manage that, I fancy, with a little contrivance. I 'll consult
Prichard; he 's coming here this very day about these renewals, and he
'll find a way of doing it."

"You'll have need of great caution," said Grounsell; "without being
naturally suspicious, misfortune has rendered him very sensitive as to
anything like a slight. To this hour he is ignorant that his daughter
sells those little figures; and although he sees, in a hundred
appliances to his comfort, signs of resources of which he knows nothing,
he never troubles his head how the money comes."

"What a strange character!"

"Strange indeed. True pride and false pride, manly patience, childish
petulance, generosity, selfishness, liberality, meanness, even to the
spiri