FROM the time of Betty Giles' death, Fred lived altogether with the Wentworths, and they eventually became so fond of him that he was like a son to them both. He studied under Dr. Wentworth, at first only with a view to becoming his assistant in the dispensary, but after a time with the intention of becoming a doctor himself. Mr. Hewson, the curate, who had been a very distinguished man in college, gave him lessons in various branches of learning; in fact, Dr. Wentworth gave him every advantage that he would have given to his own son had he lived.
Of course, as he grew up, the preparations for his profession took him away frequently from what was now his home, and no one missed him more than did Mrs. Wentworth, who had at one time quite shrunk from the idea of having him to live with her.
With his studies and all concerning his profession we have nothing to do, except with one event which took place in London.
Fred was now engaged in what is called "walking the hospitals" in London, and was a very ardent and industrious student. One day, he heard that there was to be a wonderful operation performed at a certain hospital by one of the first surgeons of the day, and he was fortunate enough to get leave to be present, though it was not one of the hospitals he generally attended. When the affair was over, one of the junior doctors, who knew him, took him through the wards.
In one of these, there was a woman who had come up from the country to take a place as cook in an hotel, but had fallen ill, and been sent to this hospital. Her name was Rayburn, and she came from Hemsborough.
The arrangements of this hospital were supposed to be almost perfect, and the system of ventilation was quite new. Young Dr. Vernon was explaining it to Fred, and consequently their progress through the ward was slow. And if they had looked at the old woman in the corner of the room, they would have seen that for some reason she was frightened—or, at least, greatly excited—at the appearance of Fred Giles.
Fred, however, saw nothing of this; neither did Dr. Vernon; but when the latter was going his rounds in the evening, No. 24 in the first ward was found in a rather excited state.
"She's been quite odd all the afternoon, Dr. Vernon," said the nurse, "and she was going on nicely before."
"I'm not worse," the woman said, "but I want to know, doctor, who was the tall young man that went through the ward with you this morning?"
"A dark-haired fellow? His name is Giles, and he's the son—adopted son, I believe—of a Dr. Giles—no, his name is not Giles—but a doctor somewhere in the country. Why do you ask?"