has done for me, and after that I shall attend the meeting of the society. Jack, my boy, won’t you come and hear my speech?”

“Thank you, sir, but I cannot well leave your friends.”

Mr. Easy quitted the room.

“Are you aware, my dear sir, that your father has opened his preserves to all the poachers?” said Mr. Hanson.

“The devil he has!”

“Yes, he has allowed several gangs of gipsies to locate themselves in his woods, much to the annoyance of the neighbourhood, who suffer from their depredations,” continued Dr. Middleton.

“I find, by the receipts and books, that there is nearly two years’ rental of the estate due; some tenants have paid up in full, others not for four years. I reckon fourteen thousand pounds still in arrear.”

“You will oblige me by taking immediate steps, Mr. Hanson, for the recovery of the sums due.”

“Most certainly, Mr. John. I trust your father will not commit himself to-night as he has done lately.”

When they rose to retire Dr. Middleton took our hero by the hand. “You do not know, my dear fellow, what pleasure it gives me to find that, in spite of the doting of your mother and the madness of your father, you have turned out so well. It is very fortunate that you have come home; I trust you will now give up the profession.”

“I have given it up, sir; which, by-the-bye, reminds me that I have not applied for either my discharge or that of my servant; but I cannot spare time yet, so I shall not report myself.”