Nothing could rouse
him out of his tame civility, which had been taken more than once for
obsequiousness. The countess-dowager had patronized him in earlier years,
when he was not a great man, or had begun to dream of becoming one.
"Don't you recollect I once consulted you on the subject--what's your
memory good for? She was a girl then, of fourteen or so; and you were
worth fifty of what you are now, in point of discernment."
The oracle carried his thoughts back, and really could not recollect it.
"Ahem! yes; and the result was--was--"
"The result was that you said the heart had nothing the matter with it,
and I said it had," broke in the impatient dowager.
"Ah, yes, madam, I remember. Pray, have you reason to suspect anything
wrong now?"
"That's what you ought to have ascertained, Pepps, not me. What d'you
mean by your neglect? What, I ask, does she lie in bed for? If her
heart's right, there's nothing more the matter with her than there is
with you."
"Perhaps your ladyship can persuade Lady Hartledon to exert herself,"
suggested the bland doctor. "I can't; and I confess I think that she only
wants rousing."
With a flourish of his hat and his small gold-headed black cane the
doctor bowed himself out from the formidable dowager. That lady turned
her back upon him, and betook herself on the spur of the moment to
Maude's room, determined to "have it out.
Pages:
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460