LordHollingford，theeldestson，hadlosthiswife，andwasagooddealmoreattheTowerssincehehadbecomeawidower。Hewasatallungainlyman，consideredtobeasproudashismother，thecountess；but，infact，hewasonlyshy，andslowatmakingcommonplacespeeches。Hedidnotknowwhattosaytopeoplewhosedailyhabitsandinterestswerenotthesameashis；hewouldhavebeenverythankfulforahandbookofsmall—talk，andwouldhavelearntoffhissentenceswithgood—humoureddiligence。Heoftenenviedthefluencyofhisgarrulousfather，whodelightedintalkingtoeverybody，andwasperfectlyunconsciousoftheincoherenceofhisconversation。
　　But，owingtohisconstitutionalreserveandshyness，LordHollingfordwasnotapopularman，althoughhiskindnessofheartwasverygreat，hissimplicityofcharacterextreme，andhisscientificacquirementsconsiderableenoughtoentitlehimtomuchreputationintheEuropeanrepublicoflearnedmen。InthisrespectHollingfordwasproudofhim。Theinhabitantsknewthatthegreat，grave，clumsyheirtoitsfealtywashighlyesteemedforhiswisdom；andthathehadmadeoneortwodiscoveries，thoughinwhatdirectiontheywerenotquitesure。Butitwassafetopointhimouttostrangersvisitingthelittletown，as’That’sLordHollingford—thefamousLordHollingford，youknow；youmusthaveheardofhim，heissoscientific。’
　　Ifthestrangersknewhisname，theyalsoknewhisclaimstofame；iftheydidnot，tentoonebuttheywouldmakeasiftheydid，andsoconcealnotonlytheirownignorance，butthatoftheircompanions，istotheexactnatureofthesourcesofhisreputation。Hewasleftawidower，withtwoorthreeboys。Theywereatapublicschool；
　　sothattheircompanionshipcouldmakethehouseinwhichhehadpassedhismarriedlifebutlittleofahometohim，andheconsequentlyspentmuchofhistimeattheTowers；wherehismotherwasproudofhim，andhisfatherveryfond，buteversolittleafraidofhim。HisfriendswerealwayswelcomedbyLordandLadyCumnor；theformer，indeed，wasinthehabitofwelcomingeverybodyeverywhere；butitwasaproofofLadyCumnor’srealaffectionforherdistinguishedson，thatsheallowedhimtoaskwhatshecalled’allsortsofpeople’totheTowers。’Allsortsofpeople’meantreallythosewhoweredistinguishedforscienceandlearning，withoutregardtorank；and，itmustbeconfessed，withoutmuchregardtopolishedmannerslikewise。MrHall，MrGibson’spredecessor，hadalwaysbeenreceivedwithfriendlycondescensionbymylady，whohadfoundhimestablishedasthefamilymedicalman，whenfirstshecametotheTowersonhermarriage；butsheneverthoughtofinterferingwithhiscustomoftakinghismeals，ifheneededrefreshment，inthehousekeeper’sroom，notwiththehousekeeper，bienentendu。
　　Thecomfortable，clever，stout，andred—faceddoctorwouldverymuchhavepreferredthis，evenifhehadhadthechoicegivenhim（whichheneverhad）oftakinghis’snack，’ashecalledit，withmylordandmylady，inthegranddining—room。Ofcourse，ifsomegreatsurgicalgun（likeSirAstley）wasbroughtdownfromLondontobearonthefamily’shealth，itwasduetohim，aswellastothelocalmedicalattendant，toaskMrHalltodinner，inaformalandceremoniousmanner，onwhichoccasionsMrHallburiedhischininvoluminousfoldsofwhitemuslin，putonhisblackknee—breeches，withbunchesofribbonatthesides，hissilkstockingsandbuckledshoes，andotherwisemadehimselfexcessivelyuncomfortableinhisattire，andwentforthinstateinapost—chaisefromthe’George，’consolinghimselfintheprivatecornerofhisheartforthediscomforthewasenduringwiththeideaofhowwellitwouldsoundthenextdayinthecarsofthesquireswhomhewasinthehabitofattending。’Yesterdayatdinnertheearlsaid，’
　　or’thecountessremarked，’or’IwassurprisedtohearwhenIwasdiningattheTowersyesterday。’ButsomehowthingshadchangedsinceMrGibsonhadbecome’thedoctor’parexcellenceatHollingford。TheMissBrowningsthoughtthatitwasbecausehehadsuchanelegantfigure，and’suchadistinguishedmanner；’MrsGoodenough，’becauseofhisaristocraticconnections’—’thesonofaScotchduke，mydear，nevermindonwhichsideoftheblanket’—butthefactwascertain；althoughhemightfrequentlyaskMrsBrowntogivehimsomethingtocatinthehousekeeper’sroom—
　　hehadnotimeforallthefussandceremonyofluncheonwithmylady—
　　hewasalwayswelcometothegrandestcircleofvisitorsinthehouse。
　　Hemightlunchwithadukeanydaythathechose；giventhatadukewasforthcomingattheTowers。HisaccentwasScotch，notprovincial。Hehadnotanounceofsuperfluousfleshonhisbones；andleannessgoesagreatwaytogentility。Hiscomplexionwassallow，andhishairblack；inthosedays，thedecadeaftertheconclusionofthegreatcontinentalwar，tobesallowandblack—a—visedwasofitselfadistinction；’hewasnotjovial（asmylordremarkedwithasigh，butitwasmyladywhoendorsedtheinvitations），sparingofhiswords，intelligent，andslightlysarcastic。Thereforehewasperfectlypresentable。HisScotchblood（forthathewasofScotchdescenttherecouldbenomannerofdoubt）gavehimjustthekindofthistlydignitywhichmadeeveryonefeelthattheymusttreathimwithrespect；soonthatheadhewasassured。
　　ThegrandeurofbeinganinvitedguesttodinnerattheTowersfromtimetotime，gavehimbutlittlepleasureformanyyears，butitwasaformtobegonethroughinthewayofhisprofession，withoutanyideaofsocialgratification。ButwhenLordHollingfordreturnedtomaketheTowershishome，affairswerealtered。MrGibsonreallyheardandlearntthingsthatinterestedhimseriously，andthatgaveafreshflavourtohisreading。Fromtimetotimehemettheleadersofthescientificworld；odd—looking，simple—heartedmen，verymuchinearnestabouttheirownparticularsubjects，andnothavingmuchtosayonanyother。MrGibsonfoundhimselfcapableofappreciatingsuchpersons，andalsoperceivedthattheyvaluedhisappreciation，asitwashonestlyandintelligentlygiven。Indeed，by—and—by，hebegantosendcontributionsofhisowntothemorescientificofthemedicaljournals，andthuspartlyinreceiving，partlyingivingoutinformationandaccuratethought，anewzestwasaddedtohislife。TherewasnotmuchintercoursebetweenLordHollingfordandhimself；theonewastoosilentandshy，theothertoobusy，toseekeachother’ssocietywiththeperseverancerequiredtodoawaywiththesocialdistinctionofrankthatpreventedtheirfrequentmeetings。Buteachwasthoroughlypleasedtocomeintocontactwiththeother。Eachcouldrelyontheother’srespectandsympathywithasecurityunknowntomanywhocallthemselvesfriends；andthiswasasourceofhappinesstoboth；toMrGibsonthemostso，ofcourse；forhisrangeofintelligentandcultivatedsocietywasthesmaller。Indeed，therewasnooneequaltohimselfamongthemenwithwhomheassociated，andthishehadfeltasadepressinginfluence，althoughhehadneverrecognizedthecauseofhisdepression。TherewasMrAshton，thevicar，whohadsucceededMrBrowning，athoroughlygoodandkind—heartedman，butonewithoutanoriginalthoughtinhim；whosehabitualcourtesyandindolentmindledhimtoagreetoeveryopinion，notpalpablyheterodox，andtoutterplatitudesinthemostgentlemanlymanner。MrGibsonhadonceortwiceamusedhimself，byleadingthevicaroninhisagreeableadmissionsofarguments’asperfectlyconvincing，’
　　andofstatementsas’curiousbutundoubted，’tillhehadplantedthepoorclergymaninabogofhereticalbewilderment。ButthenMrAshton’spainandsufferingatsuddenlyfindingoutintowhatatheologicalpredicamenthehadbeenbrought，hisrealself—reproachathispreviousadmissions，weresogreatthatMrGibsonlostallsenseoffun，andhastenedbacktotheThirty—nineArticleswithallthegood—willinlife，astheonlymeansofsoothingthevicar’sconscience。Onanyothersubject，exceptthatoforthodoxy，MrGibsoncouldleadhimanylengths；butthenhisignoranceonmostofthempreventedblandacquiescencefromarrivingatanyresultswhichcouldstartlehim。Hehadsomeprivatefortune，andwasnotmarried，andlivedthelifeofanindolentandrefinedbachelor；butthoughhehimselfwasnoveryactivevisitoramonghispoorerparishioners，hewasalwayswillingtorelievetheirwantsinthemostliberal，and，consideringhishabits，occasionallyinthemostself—denyingmanner，wheneverMrGibson，oranyoneelse，madethemclearlyknowntohim。’Usemypurseasfreelyasifitwasyourown，Gibson，’hewaswonttosay。’I’msuchabadoneatgoingaboutandmakingtalktopoorfolk—IdaresayIdon’tdoenoughinthatway—butIammostwillingtogiveyouanythingforanyoneyoumayconsiderinwant。’’Thankyou；Icomeuponyouprettyoften，Ibelieve，andmakeverylittlescrupleaboutit；butifyou’llallowmetosuggest，itis，thatyoushouldnottrytomaketalkwhenyougointothecottages；butjusttalk。’’Idon’tseethedifference，’saidthevicar，alittlequerulously；’butIdaresaythereisadifference，andIhavenodoubtwhatyousayisquitetrue。Ishouldnotmaketalk，buttalk；andasbothareequallydifficulttome，youmustletmepurchasetheprivilegeofsilencebythisten—poundnote。’’Thankyou。Itisnotsosatisfactorytome；and，Ishouldthink，nottoyourself。ButprobablytheJonesesandGreenswillpreferit。’MrAshtonwouldlookwithplaintiveinquiryintoMrGibson’sfaceaftersomesuchspeech，asifaskingifasarcasmwasintended。Onthewholetheywentoninthemostamicableway；onlybeyondthegregariousfeelingcommontomostmen，theyhadverylittleactualpleasureineachother’ssociety。PerhapsthemanofallotherstowhomMrGibsontookthemostkindly—atleast，untilLordHollingfordcameintotheneighbourhood—
　　wasacertainSquireHamley。Heandhisancestorshadbeencalledsquireaslongbackaslocaltraditionextended。Buttherewasmanyagreaterlandownerinthecounty，forSquireHamley’sestatewasnotmorethaneighthundredacresorso。ButhisfamilyhadbeeninpossessionofitlongbeforetheEarlsofCumnorhadbeenheardof；beforetheHely—HarrisonshadboughtColdstonePark；nooneinHollingfordknewthetimewhentheHamleyshadnotlivedatHamley。’EversincetheHeptarchy，’saidthevicar。’Nay，’
　　saidMissBrowning，’IhaveheardthattherewereHamleysofHamleybeforetheRomans。’Thevicarwaspreparingapoliteassent，whenMrsGoodenoughcameinwithastillmorestartlingassertion。’Ihavealwaysheerd，’saidshe，withalltheslowauthorityofanoldestinhabitant，’thattherewasHamleysofHamleyaforethetimeofthepagans。’MrAshtoncouldonlybow，andsay，’Possibly，verypossibly，madam。’ButhesaiditinsocourteousamannerthatMrsGoodenoughlookedroundinagratifiedmanner，asmuchastosay，’TheChurchconfirmsmywords；whonowwilldaredisputethem？’
　　Atanyrate，theHamleyswereaveryoldfamily，ifnotaborigines。Theyhadnotincreasedtheirestateforcenturies；theyhadheldtheirown，ifevenwithaneffort，andhadnotsoldaroodofitforthelasthundredyearsorso。Buttheywerenotanadventurousrace。Theynevertraded，orspeculated，ortriedagriculturalimprovementsofanykind。Theyhadnocapitalinanybank；norwhatperhapswouldhavebeenmoreincharacter，hoardsofgoldinanystocking。Theirmodeoflifewassimple，andmorelikethatofyeomenthansquires。IndeedSquireHamley，bycontinuingtheprimitivemannersandcustomsofhisforefathers，thesquiresoftheeighteenthcentury，didlivemoreasayeoman，whensuchaclassexisted，thanasasquireofthisgeneration。Therewasadignityinthisquietconservatismthatgainedhimanimmenseamountofrespectbothfromhighandlow；andhemighthavevisitedateveryhouseinthecountyhadhesochosen。Buthewasveryindifferenttothecharmsofsociety；andperhapsthiswasowingtothefactthatthesquire，RogerHamley，whoatpresentlivedandreignedatHamley，hadnotreceivedsogoodaneducationasheoughttohavedone。Hisfather，SquireStephen，hadbeenpluckedatOxford，and，withstubbornpride，hehadrefusedtogoupagain。Nay，more！hehadswornagreatoath，asmendidinthosedays，thatnoneofhischildrentocomeshouldeverknoweitheruniversitybybecomingamemberofit。Hehadonlyonechild，thepresentsquire，andhewasbroughtupaccordingtohisfather’sword；hewassenttoapettyprovincialschool，wherehesawmuchthathehated，andthenturnedlooseupontheestateasitsheir。Suchabringingupdidnotdohimalltheharmthatmighthavebeenanticipated。Hewasimperfectlyeducated，andignorantonmanypoints；buthewasawareofhisdeficiency，andregretteditintheory。Hewasawkwardandungainlyinsociety，andsokeptoutofitasmuchaspossible；andhewasobstinate，violent—tempered，anddictatorialinhisownimmediatecircle。Ontheotherside，hewasgenerous，andtrueassteel；theverysoulofhonourinfact。
　　Hehadsomuchnaturalshrewdness，thathisconversationwasalwaysworthlisteningto，althoughhewasapttostartbyassumingentirelyfalsepremisses，whichheconsideredasincontrovertibleasiftheyhadbeenmathematicallyproved；but，giventhecorrectnessofhispremisses，nobodycouldbringmorenaturalwitandsensetobearupontheargumentsbaseduponthem。HehadmarriedadelicatefineLondonlady；itwasoneofthoseperplexingmarriagesofwhichonecannotunderstandthereasons。Yettheywereveryhappy，thoughpossiblyMrsHamleywouldnothavesunkintotheconditionofachronicinvalid，ifherhusbandhadcaredalittlemoreforhervarioustastes，orallowedherthecompanionshipofthosewhodid。AfterhismarriagehewaswonttosayhehadgotallthatwasworthhavingoutofthatcrowdofhousestheycalledLondon。Itwasacomplimenttohiswifewhichherepeateduntiltheyearofherdeath；itcharmedheratfirst，itpleasedheruptothelasttimeofherhearingit；but，forallthat，sheusedsometimestowishthathewouldrecognizethefactthattheremightstillbesomethingworthhearingandseeinginthegreatcity。Butheneverwentthereagain，andthoughhedidnotprohibithergoing，yetheshowedsolittlesympathywithherwhenshecamebackfullofwhatshehaddoneonhervisitthatsheceasedcaringtogo。Notbutwhathewaskindandwillingingivinghisconsent，andinfurnishingheramplywithmoney。’There，there，mylittlewoman，takethat！Dressyourselfupasfineasanyon’em，andbuywhatyoulike，forthecreditofHamleyofHamley；andgototheparkandtheplay，andshowoffwiththebeston’em。Ishallbegladtoseetheebackagain，Iknow；buthavethyflingwhilethouartaboutit。’Thenwhenshecamebackitwas，’Well，well，ithaspleasedthee，Isuppose，sothat’sallright。Buttheverytalkingaboutittiresme，Iknow，andIcan’tthinkhowyouhavestooditall。Comeoutandseehowprettytheflowersarelookinginthesouthgarden。I’vemadethemsowalltheseedsyoulike；andIwentovertoHollingfordnurserytobuythecuttingsoftheplantsyouadmiredlastyear。AbreathoffreshairwillclearmybrainafterlisteningtoallthistalkaboutthewhirlofLondon，whichisliketohaveturnedmegiddy。’MrsHamleywasagreatreader，andhadconsiderableliterarytaste。Shewasgentleandsentimental；tenderandgood。ShegaveuphervisitstoLondon；shegaveuphersociablepleasureinthecompanyofherfellowsineducationandposition。Herhusband，owingtothedeficienciesofhisearlyyears，dislikedassociatingwiththosetowhomheoughttohavebeenanequal；hewastooproudtominglewithhisinferiors。Helovedhiswifeallthemoredearlyforhersacrificesforhim；but，deprivedofallherstronginterests，shesankintoill—health；nothingdefinite；onlysheneverwaswell。Perhapsifshehadhadadaughteritwouldhavebeenbetterforher；buthertwochildrenwereboys，andtheirfather，anxioustogivethemtheadvantagesofwhichhehimselfhadsufferedthedeprivation，senttheladsveryearlytoapreparatoryschool。TheyweretogoontoRugbyandCambridge；theideaofOxfordwashereditarilydistastefulintheHamleyfamily。Osborne，theeldest—socalledafterhismother’smaidenname—wasfulloftastes，andhadsometalent。Hisappearancehadallthegraceandrefinementofhismother’s。Hewassweet—temperedandaffectionate，almostasdemonstrativeasagirl。Hedidwellatschool，carryingawaymanyprizes；andwas，inaword，theprideanddelightofbothfatherandmother；theconfidentialfriendofthelatter，indefaultofanyother。
　　RogerwastwoyearsyoungerthanOsborne；clumsyandheavilybuilt，likehisfather；hisfacewassquare，andtheexpressiongrave，andratherimmobile。
　　Hewasgood，butdull，hisschoolmasterssaid。Hewonnoprizes，butbroughthomeafavourablereportofhisconduct。Whenhecaressedhismother，sheusedlaughinglytoalludetothefableofthelap—dogandthedonkey；sothereafterheleftoffallpersonaldemonstrationofaffection。ItwasagreatquestionastowhetherhewastofollowhisbrothertocollegeafterheleftRugby。MrsHamleythoughtitwouldberatherathrowingawayofmoney，ashewassolittlelikelytodistinguishhimselfinintellectualpursuits；anythingpractical—suchasacivilengineer—wouldbemorethelineoflifeforhim。Shethoughtthatitwouldbetoomortifyingforhimtogotothesamecollegeanduniversityashisbrother，whowassuretodistinguishhimself—and，toberepeatedlyplucked，tocomeawaywooden—spoonatlast。Buthisfatherpersevereddoggedly，aswashiswont，inhisintentionofgivingbothhissonsthesameeducation；theyshouldbothhavetheadvantagesofwhichhehadbeendeprived。IfRogerdidnotdowellatCambridgeitwouldbehisownfault。Ifhisfatherdidnotsendhimthither，somedayorotherhemightberegrettingtheomission，asSquireRogerhaddonehimselfformanyayear。SoRogerfollowedhisbrotherOsbornetoTrinity，’
　　andMrsHamleywasagainleftalone，aftertheyearofindecisionastoRoger’sdestination，whichhadbeenbroughtonbyherurgency。Shehadnotbeenableformanyyearstowalkbeyondhergarden；thegreaterpartofherlifewasspentonasofa，wheeledtothewindowinsummer，tothefiresideinwinter。Theroomwhichsheinhabitedwaslargeandpleasant；
　　fourtallwindowslookedoutuponalawndottedoverwithflower—beds，andmeltingawayintoasmallwood，inthecentreofwhichtherewasapond，filledwithwater—lilies。AboutthisunseenpondinthedeepshadeMrsHamleyhadwrittenmanyaprettyfour—versedpoemsinceshelayonhersofa，alternatelyreadingandcomposingpoetry。Shehadasmalltablebyhersideonwhichtherewerethenewestworksofpoetryandfiction；
　　apencilandblotting—book，withloosesheetsofblankpaper；avaseofflowersalwaysofherhusband’sgathering；winterandsummer，shehadasweetfreshnosegayeveryday。Hermaidbroughtheradraughtofmedicineeverythreehours，withaglassofclearwaterandabiscuit；herhusbandcametoherasoftenashislovefortheopenairandhislaboursout—of—doorspermitted；buttheeventofherday，whenherboyswereabsent，wasMrGibson’sfrequentprofessionalvisits。Heknewtherewasrealsecretharmgoingonallthistimethatpeoplespokeofherasamerelyfancifulinvalid；andthatoneortwoaccusedhimofhumouringherfancies。Butheonlysmiledatsuchaccusations。Hefeltthathisvisitswerearealpleasureandlighteningofhergrowingandindescribablediscomfort；heknewthatSquireHamleywouldhavebeenonlytoogladifhehadcomeeveryday；andhewasconsciousthatbycarefulwatchingofhersymptomshemightmitigateherbodilypain。Besidesallthesereasons，hetookgreatpleasureinthesquire’ssociety。MrGibsonenjoyedtheother’sunreasonableness；hisquaintness；hisstrongconservatisminreligion，politics，andmorals。MrsHamleytriedsometimestoapologizefor，ortosoftenaway，opinionswhichshefanciedwereoffensivetothedoctor，orcontradictionswhichshethoughttooabrupt；butatsuchtimesherhusbandwouldlayhisgreathandalmostcaressinglyonMrGibson’sshoulder，andsoothehiswife’sanxiety，bysaying，’Letusalone，littlewoman。Weunderstandeachother，don’twe，doctor？Why，blessyourlife，hegivesmebetterthanhegetsmanyatime；only，yousee，hesugarsitover，andsaysasharpthing，andpretendsit’sallcivilityandhumility；
　　butIcantellwhenhe’sgivingmeapill。’OneofMrsHamley’soften—expressedwisheshadbeen，thatMollymightcomeandpayheravisit。MrGibsonalwaysrefusedthisrequestofhers，thoughhecouldhardlyhavegivenhisreasonsfortheserefusals。Hedidnotwanttolosethecompanionshipofhischild，infact；butheputittohimselfinquiteadifferentway。Hethoughtherlessonsandherregularcourseofemploymentwouldbeinterrupted。ThelifeinMrsHamley’sheatedandscentedroomwouldnotbegoodforthegirl；OsborneandRogerHamleywouldbeathome，andhedidnotwishMollytobethrowntooexclusivelyuponthemforyoungsociety；ortheywouldnotbeathome，anditwouldberatherdullanddepressingforhisgirltobeallthedaylongwithanervousinvalid。ButatlengththedaycamewhenMrGibsonrodeover，andvolunteeredavisitfromMolly；anofferwhichMrsHamleyreceivedwiththe’openarmsofherheart，’assheexpressedit；andofwhichthedurationwasunspecified。
　　AndthecauseforthischangeinMrGibson’swisheswasasfollows：—Ithasbeenmentionedthathetookpupils，ratheragainsthisinclination，itistrue；buttheretheywere，aMrWynneandMrCoxe，’theyounggentlemen，’
　　astheywerecalledinthehousehold；’MrGibson’syounggentlemen，’astheyweretermedinthetown。MrWynnewastheelder，themoreexperiencedone，whocouldoccasionallytakehismaster’splace，andwhogainedexperiencebyvisitingthepoor，andthe’chroniccases。’MrGibsonusedtotalkoverhispracticewithMrWynne，andtryandelicithisopinionsinthevainhopethat，somedayoranother，MrWynnemightstartanoriginalthought。
　　Theyoungmanwascautiousandslow；hewouldneverdoanyharmbyhisrashness，butatthesametimehewouldalwaysbealittlebehindhisday。
　　StillMrGibsonrememberedthathehadhadfarworse’younggentlemen’
　　todealwith；andwascontentwith，ifnotthankfulfor，suchanelderpupilasMrWynne。MrCoxewasaboyofnineteenorso，withbrilliantredhair，andatolerablyredface，ofbothofwhichhewasveryconsciousandmuchashamed。HewasthesonofanIndianofficer，anoldacquaintanceofMrGibson’s。MajorCoxewasatsomeunpronounceablestationinthePunjaub，atthepresenttime；buttheyearbeforehehadbeeninEngland，andhadrepeatedlyexpressedhisgreatsatisfactionathavingplacedhisonlychildasapupiltohisoldfriend，andhadinfactalmostchargedMrGibsonwiththeguardianshipaswellastheinstructionofhisboy，givinghimmanyinjunctionswhichhethoughtwerespecialinthiscase；butwhichMrGibsonwithatouchofannoyanceassuredthemajorwerealwaysattendedtoineverycase，witheverypupil。Butwhenthepoormajorventuredtobegthathisboymightbeconsideredasoneofthefamily，andthathemightspendhiseveningsinthedrawing—roominsteadofthesurgery，MrGibsonturneduponhimwithadirectrefusal。’Hemustliveliketheothers。Ican’thavethepestleandmortarcarriedintothedrawing—room，andtheplacesmellingofaloes。’’Mustmyboymakepillshimself，then？’askedthemajor，ruefully。’Tobesure。Theyoungestapprenticealwaysdoes。It’snothardwork。He’llhavethecomfortofthinkinghewon’thavetoswallowthemhimself。Andhe’llhavetherunofthepomfretcakes，andtheconserveofhips，andonSundaysheshallhaveatasteoftamarindstorewardhimforhisweeklylabouratpill—making。’MajorCoxewasnotquitesurewhetherMrGibsonwasnotlaughingathiminhissleeve；butthingsweresofararranged，andtherealadvantagesweresogreatthathethoughtitwasbesttotakenonotice，buteventosubmittotheindignityofpill—making。HewasconsoledforalltheserubsbyMrGibson’smanneratlastwhenthesuprememomentoffinalpartingarrived。Thedoctordidnotsaymuch；buttherewassomethingofrealsympathyinhismannerthatspokestraighttothefather’sheart，andanimplied’youhavetrustedmewithyourboy，andIhaveacceptedthetrustinfull，’
　　ineachofthelastfewwords。MrGibsonknewhisbusinessandhumannaturetoowelltodistinguishyoungCoxebyanyovertmarksoffavouritism；buthecouldnothelpshowingtheladoccasionallythatheregardedhimwithespecialinterestasthesonofafriend。Besidesthisclaimuponhisregard，therewassomethingabouttheyoungmanhimselfthatpleasedMrGibson。Hewasrashandimpulsive，apttospeak，hittingthenailontheheadsometimeswithunconsciouscleverness，atothertimesmakinggrossandstartlingblunders。MrGibsonusedtotellhimthathismottowouldalwaysbe’killorcure，’andtothisMrCoxeoncemadeanswerthathethoughtitwasthebestmottoadoctorcouldhave；
　　forifhecouldnotcurethepatient，itwassurelybesttogethimoutofhismiseryquietly，andatonce。MrWynnelookedupinsurprise，andobservedthatheshouldbeafraidthatsuchputtingoutofmiserymightbelookeduponashomicidebysomepeople。MrGibsonsaidinadrytone，thatforhispartheshouldnotmindtheimputationofhomicide，butthatitwouldnotdotomakeawaywithprofitablepatientsinsospeedyamanner；
　　andthathethoughtthataslongastheywerewillingandabletopaytwo—and—sixpenceforthedoctor’svisit，itwashisdutytokeepthemalive；ofcourse，whentheybecamepaupersthecasewasdifferent。MrWynneponderedoverthisspeech；MrCoxeonlylaughed。AtlastMrWynnesaid，—’Butyougoeverymorning，sir，beforebreakfasttoseeoldNancyGrant，andyou’veorderedherthismedicine，sir，whichisaboutthemostcostlyinCorbyn’sbill？’’Haveyounotfoundouthowdifficultitisformentoliveuptotheirprecepts？You’veagreatdealtolearnyet，MrWynne！’saidMrGibson，leavingthesurgeryashespoke。’Inevercanmakethegovernorout，’saidMrWynne，inatoneofutterdespair。’Whatareyoulaughingat，Coxey？’’Oh！I’mthinkinghowblestyouareinhavingparentswhohaveinstilledmoralprinciplesintoyouryouthfulbosom。You’dgoandbepoisoningallthepaupersoff，ifyouhadn’tbeentoldthatmurderwasacrimebyyourmother；you’dbethinkingyouweredoingasyouwerebid，andquoteoldGibson’swordswhenyoucametobetried。"Please，mylordjudge，theywerenotabletopayformyvisits，andsoIfollowedtherulesoftheprofessionastaughtmebyMrGibson，thegreatsurgeonatHollingford，andpoisonedthepaupers。"’’Ican’tbearthatscoffingwayofhis。’’AndIlikeit。Ifitwasn’tforthegovernor’sfun，andthetamarinds，andsomethingelsethatIknowof，IwouldrunofftoIndia。Ihatestiflingrooms，andsickpeople，andthesmellofdrugs，andthestinkofpillsonmyhands；—faugh！’
　　chapter05CHAPTERVCALF—LOVEOneday，forsomereasonorother，MrGibsoncamehomeunexpectedly。Hewascrossingthehall，havingcomeinbythegarden—door—thegardencommunicatedwiththestable—yard，wherehehadlefthishorse—whenthekitchendooropened，andthegirlwhowasunderlingintheestablishment，camequicklyintothehallwithanoteinherhand，andmadeasifshewastakingitupstairs；butonseeinghermastershegavealittlestart，andturnedbackasiftohideherselfinthekitchen。Ifshehadnotmadethismovement，soconsciousofguilt，MrGibson，whowasanythingbutsuspicious，wouldneverhavetakenanynoticeofher。Asitwas，hesteppedquicklyforwards，openedthekitchendoor，andcalledout，’Bethia’sosharplythatshecouldnotdelaycomingforwards。’Givemethatnote，’hesaid。Shehesitatedalittle。’It’sforMissMolly，’shestammeredout。’Giveittome！’herepeatedmorequietlythanbefore。Shelookedasifshewouldcry；butstillshekeptthenotetightheldbehindherback。’HesaidasIwastogiveitintoherownhands；andIpromisedasIwould，faithful。’’Cook，goandfindMissMolly。Tellhertocomehereatonce。’HefixedBethiawithhiseyes。Itwasofnousetryingtoescape：shemighthavethrownitintothefire，butshehadnotpresenceofmindenough。