stately mother was known in the neighbourhood of her abode--would have been not a little startled had she chanced to learn the amount of money that had been invested at Updown Paddocks. She seldom, after having become perfectly convinced that the “concern” was a safe investment, alluded to the subject; but it is more than probable that had Mrs. Beacham been required to make a rough guess at the sum-total expended yearly on the “horse-breeding business,” she would, without much hesitation, have named something under half the amount that John, who was no niggard of his cash, thought nothing of paying for the least costly of his pure-blooded “sires.” Mrs. Beacham was justly proud of the increase of wealth and consideration which had accrued to her family by means--as she was fully justified in believing--of the intelligence and undeviating rectitude of her husband and son. But, most of all, in the simplicity of her feudal zeal, she was boastful of the friendship and unfailing regard evinced for both by the “good Squire,” as he was everywhere denominated (for they were tenants, not of Mr. Vavasour, but of “milady”), by that discriminating and kindly gentleman. A deeply-rooted love of the animal of whose race so many noble specimens were always to be seen at Updown Paddocks would have been alone sufficient to account for Cecil Vavasour’s frequent visits to Mr. Beacham’s establishment; but, in addition to this, there was a genuine liking and sincere respect for the two men who never permitted the desire for gain to triumph over their sense of honour, and who, although they breathed the air which is supposed to be so deleterious to honesty, yet retained a pure and healthy sense of what was due, not only to their customers and themselves, but to the noble animals on whose merits they so successfully traded. Cecil Vavasour thoroughly enjoyed the five miles of pleasant country walk, which had for its end and object a chat with Lady Millicent’s model tenants--the Beachams of Updown Paddocks. He delighted in their shrewd uncommon sense, in their practical equine knowledge, in their cordial welcome, and, above all, in the sight of the young stock gambolling over the sweet short pasture of the Paddocks, whilst their sober mothers cropped the staff of their lives in placid and unmolested enjoyment. The deaths, under very different circumstances, of the Squire and John’s greatly-regretted father took place within three months of each other. The illness of the latter was a lingering one, induced by imprudent self-exposure to wet and cold; and when at last the news went forth that the old man was no more, deep and general was the regret expressed by all ranks for his loss. His widow, too, mourned very sincerely for one who had been a good husband for the space of near upon forty years to her; but then she was so fortunate as to have “John” to comfort her, and he, as all the neighbours round would have been ready to acknowledge, was “a host in himself.”