and Hayward gave orders concerning
luncheon.

"Tell Miss Louisa we are to have it served here," said he, "and mind,
Sam, the chops are to be thick and cooked the way we like them; and
don't forget the East India chutney, Sam."

"It does seem rather a pity that you cannot have chutney at home with
your chops, when you are so fond of it," remarked Hayward when Sam had
gone.

"Mis' Adkins says it will give me liver trouble, and she isn't strong
enough to nurse."

"So you have to eat her ketchup?"

"Well, she doesn't put seasoning in it," admitted Jim. "But Mis' Adkins
doesn't like seasoning herself, and I don't mind."

"And I know the chops are never cut thick, the way we like them."

"Mis' Adkins likes her meat well done, and she can't get such thick
chops well done. I suppose our chops are rather thin, but I don't mind."

"Beefsteak and chops, both cut thin, and fried up like sole-leather.
I know!" said Dr. Hayward, and he stamped his foot with unregenerate
force.

"I don't mind a bit, Edward."

"You ought to mind, when it is your own house, and you buy the food and
pay your housekeeper. It is an outrage!"

"I don't mind, really, Edward."

Dr. Hayward regarded Jim with a curious expression compounded of love,
anger, and contempt. "Any more talk of legal proceedings?" he asked,
brusquely.

Jim flushed. "Tom ought not to tell of that."

"Yes, he ought; he ought to tell it all over town. He doesn't, but he
ought. It is an outrage! Here you have been all these years supporting
your nieces, and they are working away like field-mice, burrowing under
your generosity, trying to get a chance to take action and appropriate
your property and have you put under a guardian."

"I don't mind a bit," said Jim; "but--"

The other man looked inquiringly at him, and, seeing a pitiful working
of his friend's face, he jumped up and got a little jar from a shelf.
"We will drop the whole thing until we have had our chops and chutney,"
said he. "You are right; it is not worth minding. Here is a new brand of
tobacco I want you to try. I don't half like it, myself, but you may."

Jim, with a pleased smile, reached out for the tobacco, and the two
men smoked until Sam brought the luncheon. It was well cooked and well
served on an antique table. Jim was thoroughly happy. It was not
until the luncheon was over and another pipe smoked that the troubled,
perplexed expression returned to his face.

"Now," said Hayward, "out with