"Has he been drinking?"
"Upon my word, I don't know, uncle. I think not, for Janet has been with him. But, uncle—"
"Well, dear—but just give me a little more of that tipple."
Mary prepared the tumbler, and, as she handed it to him, she said, "Frank Gresham has been here to-day."
The doctor swallowed his draught, and put down the glass before he made any reply, and even then he said but little.
"Oh! Frank Gresham."
"Yes, uncle."
"You thought him looking pretty well?"
"Yes, uncle; he was very well, I believe."
Dr Thorne had nothing more to say, so he got up and went to his patient in the next room.