as regards professional matters unsteady. But all that was a matter for his father to consider, not for him. So he held his peace as touching Graham, and contrived to change the subject, veering round towards that point of the compass which had brought him into Harley Street.
'Perhaps then, Miss Furnival, it might answer some purpose if I were to get myself run over outside there. I could get one of Pickford's vans, or a dray from Barclay and Perkins', if that might be thought serviceable.'
'It would be of no use in the world, Mr. Staveley. Those very charitable middle-aged ladies opposite, the Miss Mac Codies, would have you into their houses in no time, and when you woke from your first swoon, you find yourself in the best bedroom, with one on each side of you.'
'And you in the mean time—'
'I should send over every morning at ten o'clock to inquire after you—in mamma's name. "Mrs. Furnival's compliments, and hopes Mr. Staveley will recover the use of his legs." And the man would bring back word: "The doctor hopes he may, miss; but his left eye is gone for ever." It is not everybody that can tumble discreetly. Now you, I fancy, would only disfigure yourself.'
'Then I must try what fortune can do for me without the brewer's dray.'
'Fortune has done quite enough for you, Mr. Staveley; I do not advise you to tempt her any further.'
'Miss Furnival, I have come to Harley Street to-day on purpose to tempt her to the utmost. There is my hand———'
'Mr. Staveley, pray keep your hand for a while longer in your own possession.'
'Undoubtedly I shall do so, unless I dispose of it this morning. When we were at Noningsby together, I ventured to tell you what I felt for you———'
'Did you, Mr. Staveley? If your feelings were anything beyond the common, I don't remember the telling.'
'And then,' he continued, without choosing to notice her words, 'you affected to believe that I was not in earnest in what I said to you.'
'And you must excuse me if I affect to believe the same thing of you still.'
Augustus Staveley had come into Harley Street with a positive resolve to throw his heart and hand and fortune at the feet of Miss Furnival. I fear that I shall not raise him in the estimation of my readers by saying so. But then my readers will judge him unfairly. They will forget that they have had a much better opportunity of looking into the character of Miss Furnival than he had had; and they will also forget that they have had no such oppor-
