Doctor Trubie rose, and came to the other side of Mrs. Arling's chair. "I am glad to see that I am not wanted here any longer," he began, pleasantly;—
"But you are wanted," interrupted Mrs. Arling; "you are always wanted, as a friend."
"Thank you; but I am wanted elsewhere as a physician; so I must take my leave, for the present."
He shook hands with Mrs. Arling, and gave Bergan a meaning glance, as he did so. The young man rose. "I will walk a little way with you, if you like," said he. "I have a boyish delight in the first snow, and I did not see any last winter, you remember."
The two gentlemen were hardly outside the gate, before Doctor Trubie asked;—"What do you know of this Doctor Remy's antecedents?"
Bergan narrated the facts which he had gathered, from time to time, from Doctor Remy's conversation.
"So, he would have us believe," said Doctor Trubie, contemptuously, "that he transformed himself from a poor lawyer into a scientific physician, in a year and a half, by the help of a friendly doctor, and a course of lectures! There is falsehood on the face of it."
"He had a genius for the study," replied Bergan.
"Aye, I'll warrant! that is the saving grain of truth in the whole story. Do you remember the circumstances of your elder brother's death?"
"Not very distinctly. I was so young, at the time; and then, you know, mother could never bear to hear any allusion to them."