"I should; any aunt would be glad to marry any girl to a man like you."
This was delightful from all points, and a good deal of business was done on the head of it.
"But look here," said Dillwyn presently; "I haven't told you about the luck. Old General Montgomery has called me in."
"No!"
"Yes, last night. Attack of the gout. It appears they had known my mother, and had heard that I was enormously clever. I was sorry for him then, poor old man!"
"Nonsense. He heard the truth."
"And it appears he was dissatisfied with Darkham who was with him a week ago. There was evidently something queer about his last visit. The General wouldn't say much—he's a touchy old fellow, you know; but plainly he was offended. Of course, I shall patch it up with him and Darkham. I hate other people's shoes, but for all that it will give me a rise in the neighbourhood—the fact of having been called in, I mean."
Women are seldom magnanimous where a lover is concerned. Agatha now raised a quick protest.
"Why should you do that? If he doesn't like Dr. Darkham—and who could?—why should not you take his place?"
"It is only a momentary row, I expect. Darkham has been his doctor for a long time. But what I want you to know is that it will probably give me a fillip here; and"—he drew her to him —"that will enable me to make a home for you the sooner."