"But, my dear Miss Walker," continued the young doctor, "what will his patients do?"
"You can attend to them as you have done to-day," replied Maria.
"My dear Miss Walker, you, who know me, could trust me with your father's patients; you know, that when he was able to go about, I would hand them all back to him without hesitation. But you must be aware, that for your father to discover me attending to his patients, would retard his recovery. If I do as you ask me, I must retire from C—— immediately on his convalescence."
"No, sir," said Dr. Walker, in a faint voice, "I shall not be about for a month; after making me take to my bed, the least you can do is to attend to my patients."
"If you wish it, sir—?"
"I insist upon it; and to prevent any opposition, you can say we are going into partnership."
"But—" said Edward.
"If you want my daughter," continued Dr. Walker, gruffly, "you must do as I tell you. If you wish to be my son-in-law, you must be my partner, work like a horse, slave day and night, while I smoke my pipe and drink my grog."
"My dear sir," exclaimed the young man, "you overwhelm me."
"Dear papa!" said Maria.