A day or two later he begged me to go and see him. I found him in bed, and very weak. He did not think, he said, that he was dying, but it might be that he really was. It had always been his habit, he added, throughout life to prepare for every contingency, and therefore he wished to see me now. What he said could not, for the present at least, fitly be set before the reader. He showed, however, that in the blow that had thus suddenly fallen upon himself, his feelings and his fears were all for those who had so long been dear to him. Such a life as this, secluded though it was, could not be free from the losses that are common to the race. The old family group began to grow thin before his eyes. His two elder brothers went first, to be followed before long by his only surviving sister. They, however, had all reached a ripe age. In the death of his eldest daughter, and of more than one of his grandchildren, he felt the far deeper sorrow that comes on the old when they see the young gathered to the grave before them. He would tell with sad pride how one of these little ones had once had the courage to call him to account. The child, who was but three years old, one day when playing with his elder brother, had seen his grandfather give a little dog a slight blow with a switch:-- "The hall being rather dusk, their grandfather did not perceive that the two boys were there, or he would not, in their presence, have struck Trottie. Later in the evening the children came to say good-night, and were leaving the room when he noticed signs of hesitation, followed by a whispered consultation outside the halfclosed door. They were evidently settling which should be spokesman. Probably F., although much the junior, volunteered his services, as, when they re-appeared holding one another by the hand, in a tone of deep solemnity, as befitted the occasion, he said, 'Grandpapa, why did you beat Trottie?' The old man was delighted with the child's courage in thus calling him to account; and, bidding the lads come close to him, reminded them that any noise made his head ache; that, should either of them make any noise, he should never think of beating them, but should ask them to be more careful for the future, well knowing that they would attend to his wishes; but that it would be of no use to talk to Trottie, who must either be kept out of his room altogether, which their grandmamma would not like, or must be taught, by means of the little switch, not to bark there. The boys retired fully satisfied with the explanation."