The doctor had not the hardihood nor the resolution to deny it. 'Yes,' said he, 'that is her name; she lives with me.'
'Yes, and lives with all those grand folks at Greshamsbury too. I have heard of that.'
'She lives with me, and belongs to me, and is as my daughter.'
'She shall come over here. Lady Scatcherd shall have her to stay with her. She shall come to us. And as for my will, I'll make another. I'll—'
'Yes, make another will—or else alter that one. But as to Miss Thorne coming here—'
'What! Mary—'
'Well, Mary. As to Mary Thorne coming here, that I fear will not be possible. She cannot have two homes. She has cast her lot with one of her uncles, and she must remain with him now.'
'Do you mean to say she must never have any relation but one?'
'But one such as I am. She would not be happy over here. She does not like new faces. You have enough depending on you; I have but her.'
'Enough! why, I have only got Louis Philippe. I could provide for a dozen girls.'
'Well, well, well, we will not talk about that.'
'Ah! but, Thorne, you have told me of this girl now, and I cannot but talk of her. If you wished to keep the matter dark, you should have said nothing about it. She is my niece as much as yours. And, Thorne, I loved my sister Mary quite as well as you loved your brother; quite as well.'
Any one who might now have heard and seen the contractor would have hardly thought him to be the same man who, a few hours before, was urging that the Barchester physician should be put under the pump.
'You have your son, Scatcherd. I have no one but that girl.'
'I don't want to take her from you. I don't want to take her; but surely there can be no harm in her coming here to see us. I can provide for her, Thorne, remember that. I can provide for her without reference to Louis Philippe. What are ten or fifteen thousand pounds to me? Remember that, Thorne.'
Dr. Thorne did remember it. In that interview he remembered many things, and much passed through his mind on which he felt himself compelled to resolve somewhat too suddenly. Would he be justified in rejecting, on behalf of Mary, the offer of pecuniary provision which this rich relative seemed so well inclined to make? Or, if he accepted it, would he in truth be studying her interests? Scatcherd was a
