“I say, Lawrence,” cried the old lawyer querulously, “don’t do that. You give me the creeps.”
The doctor meekly laid his stick beside his hat, and put his hands in his pockets.
“Look here,” he said, “what about that poor girl?”
“Well, what about her?”
“Are we to standstill and see her throw herself away upon this wretched man?”
“Can you show me a way out of the difficulty? If so, for goodness’ sake speak out.”
“Your wife! Cannot she influence her?”
“No. She has done everything. The poor girl looks upon it as a duty to the old man, and to his grandson; and she has made up her mind.”
“Tut—tut—tut—tut—tut!”
“She believes that she can bring the fellow round to a better way of life.”