“Am I such a very eccentric man, then, that I should study my profession hard?”
“Not at all, my dear fellow—not at all. I study mine hard, my dear Horace. Left almost penniless, it was a necessity, and I have, I am proud to say, been very successful, and am practically independent. But my visit here to-day was not to see the handsome widow—there, don’t blush, old fellow.”
“Don’t be a fool, Thompson,” said the doctor testily. “Now, then, what were you going to say?”
“I was going to tell you that my visit would be to the Hall.”
“To the Hall?” cried North excitedly. “Yes. Here, what’s the matter?” said Cousin Thompson excitedly. “He hasn’t given me the slip?”
“If you mean Sir Luke Candlish—”
“No,” said Thompson harshly; “I don’t mean Luke Candlish. Here, why don’t you speak, man? Has Tom Candlish gone?”
“No; he is at the Hall; but—”
“That’s all right, then,” said Cousin Thompson, drawing a breath of relief. “Oh, I see, you’ve been over.”
“Yes, I have been over.”