or Frank. Lady Arabella would doubtless have preferred a messenger more absolutely friendly to her own side of the house; but such messenger there was none: she could not send Mr. Gazebee to see her doctor, and so, of two evils she chose the least. 'Dr. Fillgrave,' said Frank, shaking hands with him very cordially as he came up, 'my mother is so much obliged to you for all your care and anxiety on her behalf! and so, indeed, are we all.'
The doctor shook hands with him very warmly. This little expression of a family feeling on his behalf was the more gratifying, as he had always thought that the males of the Greshamsbury family were still wedded to that pseudo doctor, that half-apothecary who lived in the village.
'It has been awfully troublesome to you, coming over all this way, I am sure. Indeed, money could not pay for it; my mother feels that. It must cut up your time so much.'
'Not at all, Mr. Gresham; not at all,' said the Barchester doctor, rising up on his toes proudly as he spoke. 'A person of your mother's importance, you know! I should be happy to go any distance to see her.'
'Ah! but, Dr. Fillgrave, we cannot allow that.'
'Mr. Gresham, don't mention it.'
'Oh, yes; but I must,' said Frank, who thought that he had done enough for civility, and was now anxious to come to the point. 'The fact is, doctor, that we are very much obliged for what you have done; but, for the future, my mother thinks she can trust to such assistance as she can get here in the village.'
Frank had been particularly instructed to be very careful how he mentioned Dr. Thorne's name, and, therefore, cleverly avoided it.
Get what assistance she wanted in the village! What words were those that he heard? 'Mr. Gresham, eh—hem—perhaps I do not completely—' Yes, alas! he had completely understood what Frank had meant that he should understand. Frank desired to be civil, but he had no idea of beating unnecessarily about the bush on such an occasion as this.
'It's by Sir Omicron's advice, Dr. Fillgrave. You see, this man here'—and he nodded his head towards the doctor's house, being still anxious not to pronounce the hideous name—'has known my mother's constitution for so many years.'
'Oh, Mr. Gresham; of course, if it is wished.'
'Yes, Dr. Fillgrave, it is wished. Lunch is coming directly' and Frank rang the bell.
'Nothing, I thank you, Mr. Gresham.'
'Do take a glass of sherry.'
'Nothing at all, I am very much obliged to you.'
