any way; but when that girl was an infant, six months old, she was like to be a thorough obstacle to her mother's fortune in life. Tomlinson was willing to marry your sister, but he would not marry the child too. Then I took the baby, and I promised her mother that I would be to her as a father. I have kept my word as fairly as I have been able. She has sat at my hearth, and drunk of my cup, and been to me as my own child. After that, I have a right to judge what is best for her. Her life is not like your life, and her ways are not as your ways—'
'Ah, that is just it; we are too vulgar for her.'
'You may take it as you will,' said the doctor, who was too much in earnest to be in the least afraid of offending his companion. 'I have not said so; but I do say that you and she are unlike in your way of living.'
'She wouldn't like an uncle with a brandy bottle under his head, eh?'
'You could not see her without letting her know what is the connection between you; of that I wish to keep her in ignorance.'
'I never knew any one yet who was ashamed of a rich connection. How do you mean to get a husband for her, eh?'
'I have told you of her existence,' continued the doctor, not appearing to notice what the baronet had last said, 'because I found it necessary that you should know the fact of your sister having left this child behind her; you would otherwise have made a will different from that intended, and there might have been a lawsuit, and mischief and misery when we are gone. You must perceive that I have done this in honesty to you; and you yourself are too honest to repay me by taking advantage of this knowledge to make me unhappy.'
'Oh, very well, doctor. At any rate, you are a brick, I will say that. But I'll think of all this, I'll think of it; but it does startle me to find that poor Mary has a child living so near to me.'
'And now, Scatcherd, I will say good-bye. We part friends, don't we?'
'Oh, but doctor, you ain't going to leave me so. What am I to do? What doses shall I take? How much brandy may I drink? May I have a grill for dinner? D me, doctor, you have turned Fillgrave out of the house. You mustn't go and desert me.'
Dr. Thorne laughed, and then, sitting himself down to write medically, gave such prescriptions and ordinances as he found to be necessary. They amounted but to this: that the man was to drink, if possible, no brandy; and if that were not possible, then as little as might be.
