It may be thought the Doctor was too positive, and Mrs. Almond intimated as much.

But, as he said, he had his impression; it seemed to him sufficient, and he had no wish to modify it.

He had passed his life in estimating people (it was part of the medical trade), and in nineteen cases out of twenty he was right.

"Perhaps Mr. Townsend is the twentieth case," Mrs. Almond suggested.

"Perhaps he is, though he doesn't look to me at all like a twentieth case.

But I will give him the benefit of the doubt, and, to make sure, I will go and talk with Mrs. Montgomery.

She will almost certainly tell me I have done right; but it is just possible that she will prove to me that I have made the greatest mistake of my life. If she does, I will beg Mr. Townsend's pardon.

You needn't invite her to meet me, as you kindly proposed; I will write her a frank letter, telling her how matters stand, and asking leave to come and see her."

"I am afraid the frankness will be chiefly on your side.

The poor little woman will stand up for her brother, whatever he may be."

"Whatever he may be?

I doubt that.

People are not always so fond of their brothers."

"Ah," said Mrs. Almond, "when it's a question of thirty thousand a year coming into a family--"

"If she stands up for him on account of the money, she will be a humbug.

If she is a humbug I shall see it.

If I see it, I won't waste time with her."

"She is not a humbug--she is an exemplary woman.

She will not wish to play her brother a trick simply because he is selfish."

"If she is worth talking to, she will sooner play him a trick than that he should play Catherine one.

Has she seen Catherine, by the way--does she know her?"

"Not to my knowledge.

Mr. Townsend can have............