"I am the best judge of my family matters. You are unjust and severe. Of course I love my child better than anybody else."
"Heaven preserve her from such love as you have lavished on her! She is very dear to me. I understand her character; you either cannot or will not. She is the only thing in this world that I do really love. My pet, my violet-eyed darling!"
He shaded his face and swallowed a sob, and for some moments neither spoke. After a while the doctor buttoned up his coat and took his hat.
"I am going down to my office to get a different prescription. I will be back soon."
Contrary to his phlegmatic habit, the doctor had taken counsel of his fears until he was completely unnerved, and he went home more than usually surly and snappish. As he entered his office, Russell advanced to meet him from the window whence, for nearly an hour, he had been watching for his arrival.
"Good evening, doctor."
"What do you want?"
"How is Miss Huntingdon?"
"What is Miss Huntingdon to you?"
"She was one of my mother's best friends, though only a little girl at the time."