“Enough to live upon as quietly as they are doing now.”
“Ah! but they want something more than that. He ought to move about, to travel, and she ought to be tempted back to interest in life with some of the pretty things she is so fond of. Haven’t they any relations who could manage that?”
Ella’s face brightened with a little smile as she nodded assent. “I think the relations can be found,” she said.
Apparently the doctor thought he had put the suggestion into good hands, for he looked at her very good-humouredly as he held out his hand and bade her good-bye.
“The gentleman who was dismissed for me will be wishing me all the nauseous draughts I ever prescribed,” said he drily.
Ella grew superbly disdainful.
“Oh no,” she cried with haughty emphasis. “He is only a silly young fellow who was a fellow-officer of Mr. Lauriston’s, and who is so fond of him that he has come down here on purpose to see him, although he puts off doing so from day to day for fear of waking in him recollections which might distress him.”
The doctor was more than satisfied with this elaborate explanation.
“I dare say he manages to fill up his time agreeably enough—in this pleasant neighbourhood,” said he gravely.
And he raised his hat and left her before she had time to utter another protest.