cord this gentleman a brief hearing at
present; he has come above a hundred miles to crave it, and must leave
Dublin by the afternoon mail."

"Without it be Mr. Cashel's pleasure to detain me," said the doctor,
submissively.

"He is a tenant of your Tubbermore estate, sir," resumed Kennyfeck, "a
very near neighbor."

"I regret that I am pressed for time at this moment, sir," said Cashel,
drawing on his gloves impatiently; "but I believe it is the less
consequence, inasmuch as I really know nothing--absolutely nothing--and
you, Mr. Kennyfeck, know everything about that property, and are by far
the best person to hear and decide upon this gentleman's proposition,
whatever it be."

"It is a case that must be decided by yourself, sir," said the doctor.
"It is neither a matter of law nor right, but a simple question of
whether you will do an act of great kindness to the oldest tenant on
your property,--a man who, now overtaken by years and sickness, may not
perhaps be alive at my return to hear of your benevolence."

"It is about this renewal, sir," interposed Kennyfeck, who saw Cashel's
increasing impatience to be away. "Mr. Corrigan's lease expires on the
25th."

"He is now struck by paralysis," interrupted the doctor; "and his only
prayer is to be suffered to die beneath the roof where he has lived for
fifty years."

"A tenant at will," interposed Kennyfeck.

"Gracious Heaven! how could he suppose I should dream of dispossessing
him?" cried Cashel. "Of course, sir, the house is his own so long as
he pleases to hold it. Tell him so. Mr. Kennyfeck will tell him from me
that he need not give the matter another thought. I am sincerely grieved
that it should have already caused him so much anxiety."

"Ah, sir," cried the doctor, while two very dubious drops twinkled in
his eyes, "you are indeed worthy of the good fortune that has befallen
you. My poor old friend will bless you, with a prouder heart in his
belief in human nature than even his gratitude could suggest. Farewell,
sir, and may you long live to be as happy as you know how to make
others."

With an impulse of irrepressible warmth the old man seized Cashel's
hand in both his own, and pressed it cordially, when the door suddenly
opened, and Linton, dressed in a riding costume, appeared.

"What, Roland, at business so early. Do you know you 're an hour behind
time?"

"I do; but I couldn't help it In fact, this was unexpected--"

"It was an act of benev