ed. Some of
these he gave up manfully, others cost him deeply; and when the day came
that he had to take leave of his old gray pony, the faithful companion
of so many a lonely ramble, the creature he had reared and petted like a
dog, the struggle was almost too much for him.

[Illustration: 050]

He walked along beside the man who led the beast to the gate, telling
him to be sure and seek out some one who would treat her kindly. "Some
there are would do so for my sake; but she deserves it better for her
own.--Yes, Nora, I 'm speaking of you," said he, caressing her, as
she laid her nose over his arm. "I'm sure I never thought we'd have to
part."

"She's good as goold this minit," said the man; "an' it'll go hard but
'll get six pounds for her, any way."

"Tell whoever buys her that Mr. Corrigan will give him a crown-piece
every Christmas-day that he sees her looking well and in good heart. To
be sure, it's no great bribe, we're both so old," said he, smiling; "but
my blessing goes with the man that's a friend to her." He sat down as
he said this, and held his hand over his face till she was gone. "God
forgive me, if I set my heart too much on such things, but it's like
parting with an old friend. Poor Mary's harp must go next. But here
comes Tiernay. Well, doctor, what news?"

The doctor shook his head twice or thrice despondingly, but said
nothing; at last, he muttered, in a grumbling voice,--

"I was twice at the Hall, but there's no seeing Cashel himself; an
insolent puppy of a valet turned away contemptuously as I asked for him,
and said,--

"Mr. Linton, perhaps, might hear what you have to say.'"

"Is Kennyfeck to be found?"

"Yes, I saw him for a few minutes; but he's like the rest of them. The
old fool fancies he 's a man of fashion here, and told me he had left
'the attorney' behind, in Merrion Square. He half confessed to me,
however, what I feared. Cashel has either given a promise to give this
farm of yours to Linton--"

"Well, the new landlord will not be less kind than the old one."

"You think so," said Tiernay, sternly. "Is your knowledge of life no
better than this? Have you lived till now without being able to read
that man? Come, come, Corrigan, don't treat this as a prejudice of mine;
I have watched him closely, and he sees it. I tell you again, the fellow
is a villain."

"Ay, ay," said Corrigan, laughing; "your doctor's craft has made you
always on the look-out for some hidden mischie