“Never,” said the Doctor emphatically.
“But they might, my dear,” replied Mrs Morley. “You can go, but I shall certainly stay.”
“You talk very glibly,” grunted the Doctor, “about my going; but suppose I am wanted?”
“Well, if you are, it will only be for some trivial ailment amongst the native people, and I should know what to give them.”
“What!” cried the Doctor.—“Why, my dear Dallas, the last time she meddled with my bottles she nearly poisoned one of my patients.”
“For shame, Henry!—Don’t you believe him, Sir Charles. I am sure I did the poor woman a great deal of good.”
“It’s all very fine,” said the Doctor. “I must confess the woman did get better; and if madam had quite poisoned her, as she was a native it wouldn’t have mattered much.”
“Oh uncle, for shame!—He doesn’t mean it, Sir Charles,” said Minnie.
“But it would have spoilt my credit,” continued the Doctor; “and there, I don’t want to see a lot of blow-flies with lights in their tails; so, once for all, I sha’n’t go.”
“But you ought to go, my dear,” said Mrs Morley, who looked rather annoyed.