And at this the doctor
heaved a sigh of relief, for he had feared a more direct inquiry, and
consequently one more difficult to answer.

"Not this season, my boy; you must make up your mind to that. A spill
like yours takes a little time to recover. You must be easy, and make
yourself happy at home."

"O'Brien, shall I ever hunt again?"

The doctor put his hand to his head in miserable embarrassment. He had
known handsome Jack O'Shaughnessy since he was a boy in knickerbockers.
It was more than he could stand to look him in the face and give him his
death-warrant.

"Now--now--now," he cried impatiently, "it isn't like you, Major, to be
worrying your head about what is going to happen next year! Keep still,
and be thankful you've a comfortable bed to lie on and two of the
prettiest daughters in Ireland to wait upon you! When next season comes
it will answer for itself, but I'm not a prophet--I can't foretell the
future."

The Major looked in his face with bright, steady eyes.

"You foolish fellow!" he cried. "You foolish fellow! You were always a
bad hand at deception, and you are no cleverer than usual this evening.
What are you afraid of, man? I'm not a coward! If my time's come, I
can face it calmly. Back injured, eh? That's why I felt no pain, but
it's difficult to realise that an injury is hopeless, when one is so
comparatively comfortable. How long will it be?"

He was perfectly calm, but the doctor was trembling with emotion, and
his voice was rough with tears.

"I can't say. You are very ill, old man--I won't deceive you--but while
there is life there is hope. We are going to have a man from Dublin; we
will try every means, and you must help us by keeping up your heart.
One never knows what changes may take place." But the Major only looked
at him the more steadily and repeated his question.

"How long will it be? I ought to know, so that I may do what I can for
the children. I haven't been the best of fathers to them, and the
estate is in a rare muddle. And Jack! What about Jack? I'd like to
see him again, but if it's not imminent, I won't bring him back just
yet. The boy is doing well, but he is not his own master, and has just
had a holiday. I must be unselfish in my last days, but you must
promise, doctor, not to let me go without seeing Jack!"

"My dear fellow, it's not a question of days! At the worst it will be
weeks, possibly months. My own opinion is two or three mont