Ulick could not restrain a smile at the fruitlessness of thinking of assistance of this kind from his elder brothers, and as to little Redmond, the only younger one still to be disposed of, he hoped to do better things for him.

‘Then send for a sister.’

He hoped he might bring Rose over when his aunt was gone, but he could not shut those two up together at any price.

Then,’ said Mr. Kendal, rather angrily, ’get an experienced, trustworthy clerk, so as to be able to go from home, or give yourself some relaxation.’

’Yes, I inquired about such a person, but there’s the salary; and where would be the chance of getting Redmond to school?’

‘I think your father might see to that.’

Ulick had no answer to make to this.  The legacy to Mrs. O’More might nearly as well have been thrown into the sea.

‘Well,’ said Mr. Kendal, walking about the room, ’why don’t you keep a horse?’

‘As a less costly animal than brother, sister, or clerk?’ said Ulick, laughing.

’Your health will prove more costly than all the rest if you do not take care.’

’Well, my aunt told me it would be respectable and promote confidence if I lived like a gentleman and kept my horse.  I’ll see about it,’ said Ulick, in a more persuadable tone.

The seeing about it resulted in the arrival of a genuine product of county Galway, a long-legged, raw-boned hunter, with a wild, frightened eye, quivering, suspicious-looking ears, and an ill-omened name compounded of kill and of kick, which Maurice alone endeavoured to pronounce; also an outside car, very nearly as good as new.  This last exceeded Ulick’s commission, but it had been such a bargain, that Connel had not been able to resist it, indeed it cost more in coming over than the original price; but Ulick nearly danced round it, promising Mrs. and Miss Kendal that when new cushioned and new painted they would find it beat everything.

He was not quite so envious of Mr. Hope when he devoted the early morning hours to Killye-kickye, as the incorrect world called his steed, and, if the truth must be told, he first began to realize the advantages of wealth, when he set his name down among the subscribers to the hounds.

Nor was this the only subscription to which he was glad to set his name; there were others where Mr. Dusautoy wanted funds, and Mr. Kendal’s difficulties were lessened by having another lord of the soil on his side.  Some exchanges brought land enough within their power to make drainage feasible, and Ulick started the idea that it would be better to locate the almshouses at the top of the hill, on the site of Madame Belmarche’s old house, than to place them where Tibb’s Alley at present was, close to the river, and far from church.