the best dip to use, how to determine the precise moment for shearing,
to secure the best quality of wool, and so on.

Yet it seemed to me that through it all Mr Lestrange's mind was
dwelling upon something else, something that he was anxious to speak
about as soon as a favourable opportunity should arrive. That
opportunity, however, did not occur until after my mother and Nell had
retired for the night, for we Laurences happened to be enthusiasts in
the matter of music. My mother was not only a brilliant pianiste, but
she also sang exceedingly well. My father possessed a chamber organ,
Nesbitt owned a very sweet-toned violin from which he could extract the
most wonderful music, and, lastly, I had learned to tootle fairly well
upon the flute; therefore whenever we had visitors we were generally
required to organise an impromptu concert for their benefit, as was the
case on the evening in question. But at length the instruments fell
silent, my mother and Nell bade us good night and retired to their
rooms, and, a table under the veranda having been set out with
decanters, glasses, cigars, and tobacco, we males adjourned to the front
stoep for a final gossip before separating. And then it was that Mr
Lestrange found opportunity to broach the matter which, as I
conjectured, had been occupying his thoughts all the evening.

Having mixed himself a glass of grog and lighted his pipe, he drew his
chair close up to the one occupied by my father, and, lowering his voice
to a confidential tone, said:

"Look here, Laurence! The real reason why I rode over here this
afternoon was not personally to congratulate Ned upon the occurrence of
his birthday, but to ask you how you happen to be off for ammunition. I
have been wondering whether you could spare me a little."

"Well," said my father, "I think we can let you have a little, though
not very much, for our own stock is growing rather low. How much do you
want?"

"Could you let me have, say, twenty pounds of powder and--?" began
Lestrange.

"Twenty pounds!" ejaculated my father in surprise. "No, that I
certainly cannot; for I do not think we have more than half that
quantity altogether. But I dare say we can let you have four or five
pounds to tide you over until you can replenish your stock, if that will
be of any use to you."

"Thanks very much," answered Lestrange; "but it would not be enough, and
moreover it would be depriving you. No; I must see if I cannot