“Then why do you stay, putting him to expense? You know the other doctors say it is a case for years of patient waiting.”
“Hang the other doctors, ma’am!” cried Scales. “I do not go by what they say. I think differently, and have faith in being able to alter the condition of things.”
Miss Raleigh shook her head.
“Ah, but I have, madam; and I shall go on trying till my poor friend sends me away.—And now, Miss Raleigh, before I go any further, I want to apologise to you.”
“Apologise! To me?”
“Yes, to you. I made use of a very common but unkindly expression towards you, yesterday. Perhaps you have forgotten it.”
Aunt Sophia looked at him searchingly; and there he saw the look of pain that had softened her countenance on the previous day come back, and her eyes filled with tears, as she said quietly: “I never forget these things.”
“But you will forgive them. Believe me, I am very sorry, and I regret it extremely. I was worried and disappointed at the time.”
“You only called me an old maid,” said Aunt Sophia, with a smile full of sadness softening the harsh lines of her face.
“And I ought to have been ashamed of myself. It was the act of some thoughtless boy. Forgive me;” and he held out his hand.