His way of changing the subject was to encircle her waist with his arm.
"But about the money," said Hermia, two or three minutes later, as she stood before the chimney-glass, trying to put her hair to rights, which, owing to some accident, had become considerably disarranged--"about the twelve hundred pounds. Was I not right in acting as I did?"
"My dearest and best, it was out of the question that you should have acted otherwise. Whatever your uncle may choose to say, the money is not yours, but his. If it pleases him to let it accumulate in your name, well and good; no one can hinder him from doing as he likes in the matter, but his doing so in nowise alters the facts of the case. The money remains his just the same; he cannot give you what you are not willing to take, and this is a kind of gift, or so it seems to me, which it is impossible for you to accept."
"I was sure you would say so; I was sure you would think exactly as I do in the matter," said Hermia, with shining eyes. "What will uncle and aunt say now?"
"Which reminds me that I have not yet had my little interview with your uncle," said Clem. "But as I can't stay much longer--for a doctor's time is never his own--and as one should never omit to gather honey while one has the chance," he added artfully, "it seems to me that it will be better to put off my interview with Mr. Brancker till this evening, or to-morrow."
"Indeed, sir, but you will do no such thing," cried Hermia. "I begin to discern a certain selfishness of disposition about you, which I trust you will do your utmost to check while it is yet in the bud. I will ask Uncle John to come at once, in case any of your poor patients should fancy you are neglecting them," and before Clem could intercept her she was gone.
On the interview between the young doctor and John Brancker it is not needful that we should dwell. Presently Miss Brancker was called into the room by her brother. The kind-hearted spinster could not help letting fall a few tears when told the news, although she had not been without her suspicions of what was in the air for some time past. "There is no one in the wide world," she said, with fervor, "to whom my brother and I would sooner entrust our darling than to you, Mr. Clement. And as for her, she is worthy of all the care and love which any man can bestow on her."
"On that point I am quite sure," replied Clem, earnestly, "and if I know anything of myself, she will never lack either one or the other at my hands."
Then John brought up the subject of the twelve hundred pounds. It would be such a nice little nest-egg to start housekeeping with, he said. Clem only laughed, and replied that both he and Hermia were fully agreed that the money belonged to John and to him only, and that neither by deed or gift nor in any other form would Hermia accept a shilling of it.
"Then hang me!" cried John, with what for him was a burst of passion, as he banged his fist on the table, "if I don't give every farthing of it to the Dulminster Hospital."