"Oh," said Janet, quickly, "he has not yet finished his studies. There is a fine opening for a doctor in Gattigo, but Fred is not a doctor yet."
"Then we may keep him till he is a doctor. Is that what you mean?"
"If you wish it. Of course, we would pay all his fees, or whatever expenses there are; but we could not bear to think that you, who have been so good to him—the truth is, Lucy, we have talked this over several times, and we cannot get further than this: he must stay in England to finish his studies."
"That will be another year. When that year is over, Alick will not be sorry to leave Edgestone. I will speak to him, and I hope he will go out with Fred and settle in Gattigo."
"But you?" Janet said softly.
"I shall be at rest, my dear. It cannot last another year. Fred has made all the brightness poor Alick has had in his life since our boy died and my long illness began. It is only right that Fred should go out to you, but it would be hard on Alick to be left alone. I shall be happy about him now."
"I am sure of one thing—Dr. Wentworth will be Fred's first thought," said Janet, earnestly. "And I am glad to know your wishes. My husband cannot be absent from Gattigo much longer, but this makes it possible to arrange matters."
"Tell me, Janet—I know you wrote to that dreadful woman, Mr. Rayburn's stepmother—have you had an answer?"
"No; but I hope she will write. Poor, unhappy woman!"
"I hardly think she will. She must feel like a murderer."