Ethel explained; and for her pains Tom fell upon her for her folly in not having told him all, when he could have gone to Blewer and gathered information as no professional person could do; then lamented that he had let Aubrey keep him from the inquest, when the fellow's hang-dog look would have been sure to suggest to him to set Anderson to get him searched. Even now he would go to the mill, and try to hunt up something.
'Tom, remember papa's promise!'
'Do you think a man can do nothing without committing himself, like poor Aubrey? No, Ethel, the Doctor may be clever, but that's no use if a man is soft, and he is uncommonly soft; and you should not encourage him in it.'
Ethel was prevented from expressing useless indignation by the arrival of Mary, asking where papa was.
'Gone to bed. He said he must go off at six to-morrow, there are so many patients to see. Ave does not want him, I hope?'
No, she is still asleep; I was only waiting for Richard, and he had dreadful work with that poor Henry.'
'What kind of work?'
'Oh, I believe it has all come on him now that it was his fault—driving Leonard to that place; and he was in such misery, that Richard could not leave him.'
'I am glad he has the grace to feel it at last,' said Tom.
'It must be very terrible!' said Mary. 'He says he cannot stay in that house, for every room reproaches him; and he groaned as if he was in tremendous bodily pain.'