"Nobody knows so well as you do the dreadful state of the squire's affairs."
"Not so very dreadful; not so very dreadful," said the doctor, mildly: "that is, as far as I know."
"Yes they are, doctor; very dreadful; very dreadful indeed. You know how much he owes to this young man: I do not, for the squire never tells anything to me; but I know that it is a very large sum of money; enough to swamp the estate and ruin Frank. Now I call that very dreadful."
"No, no, not ruin him, Lady Arabella; not ruin him, I hope."
"However, I did not come to talk to you about that. As I said before, I know nothing of the squire's affairs, and, as a matter of course, I do not ask you to tell me. But I am sure you will agree with me in this, that, as a mother, I cannot but be interested about my only son," and Lady Arabella put her cambric handkerchief to her eyes.
"Of course you are; of course you are," said the doctor; "and, Lady Arabella, my opinion of Frank is such, that I feel sure that he will do well;" and, in his energy, Dr Thorne brandished one of the thigh-bones almost in the lady's face.
"I hope he will; I am sure I hope he will. But, doctor, he has such dangers to contend with; he is so warm and impulsive that I fear his heart will bring him into trouble. Now, you know, unless Frank marries money he is lost."
The doctor made no answer to this last appeal, but as he sat and listened a slight frown came across his brow.
"He must marry money, doctor. Now we have, you see, with your assistance, contrived to separate him from dear Mary—"
"With my assistance, Lady Arabella! I have given no assistance, nor have I meddled in the matter; nor will I."