"Ever since I knew her. I was, of course, at first called in to her on account of them."
"Your attendance on Mrs. Derinzy has been merely a pretext?"
"Exactly; a pretext invented by the family and not by me."
"Have you any reason for imagining why this pretext was made?"
"They wished to keep everyone in ignorance of Miss Derinzy's state, and asked me to procure a trustworthy person whom I could recommend as her nurse----"
"Ah, Mrs. Stothard?"
"Exactly; Mrs. Stothard--you have made her acquaintance too?--and to visit the young lady from time to time."
"And you were asked to keep the fact of your visits from me?"
"Certainly. The Derinzys were aware that you were in the same office with their son, and were most desirous that his cousin's state should be concealed from him, above all others. Why, I never thought proper to inquire."
"I know the reason," said George, with half a sigh. "Do you think that this dreadful disease under which Miss Derinzy suffers is progressing or decreasing?"