poke plainly,
almost angrily, of the necessity of change of air and scene. When
the Master hinted at his inability to provide this, the doctor
shrugged his well-clad shoulders.

"I can only tell you, my dear sir, that if the patient is to
recover she must leave this place. A month up in the mountains
would put her right, with a liberal diet, and comfortable quarters.
The expense need not be great. I should say that, with care, twenty
pounds might cover the whole thing."

It was then that, with a certain gruff abruptness, the Master
informed the doctor, outside the door of the sitting-room, that his
resources were reduced to less than half the amount mentioned, and
that there were bills owing. The doctor looked grave for a moment,
and then shrugged his shoulders again. As he was leaving he said--

"Why, you have a dog there that must eat as much as a man. I
imagine you could sell him for twenty pounds. Indeed, there is a
patient of my own who I am sure would pay that for so fine a
hound."

"I dare say," said the Master sadly, "seeing that I refused a
hundred guineas for him before he was fully grown. That is the
finest Irish Wolfhound living, a full champion, and the most
valuable dog of his breed in the world. But we could not part with
Finn. He---- No, we could not sell Finn."

Again the young doctor shrugged his shoulders.

"Ah, well, that's your business, of course; but I have told you the
patient will not recover in this place. If the dog is such a fine
one as all that, perhaps you could get more for him; enough to set
the patient on her feet, and establish yourself in some way. In
fact, I think my friend would give more, if I were to ask him; he
is one of the richest men in the city, and a great lover of
animals."

The rest of that day proved the most miserable time that the Master
and Finn had spent in Australia. But a pretence at cheerfulness had
to be maintained until the Mistress had retired for the night; and
then, for many hours, the Master sat before an empty fire-place,
with Finn's great head resting on his knees, and one of his hands
mechanically rubbing and stroking the Wolfhound's ears, while he
thought, and thought, and found only greater sadness in his
thinking. Finn felt plainly that a crisis had arrived, and he
tried to show his agreement and understanding, when at long last,
the Master rose from his comfortless wooden chair, saying sadly--

"I don't see what else a man can do, my Finn, b