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Rh himself out somewhat more than ordinarily as he followed the servant.

'Dr. Fillgrave,' said the squire, at once beginning the conversation, 'Lady Arabella is, I fear, in danger.'

'Well, no; I hope not in danger, Mr. Gresham. I certainly believe I may be justified in expressing a hope that she is not in danger. Her state is, no doubt, rather serious—rather serious—as Dr. Century has probably told you;' and Dr. Fillgrave made a bow to the old man, who sat quiet in one of the dining-room arm-chairs.

'Well, doctor,' said the squire, 'I have not any grounds on which to doubt your judgement.'

Dr. Fillgrave bowed, but with the stiffest, slightest inclination which a head could possibly make. He rather thought that Mr. Gresham had no ground for doubting his judgment.

'Nor do I.'

The doctor bowed, and a little, a very little less stiffly.

'But, doctor, I think that something ought to be done.'

The doctor this time did his bowing merely with his eyes and mouth. The former he closed for a moment, the latter he pressed; and then decorously rubbed his hands one over the other.

'I am afraid, Dr. Fillgrave, that you and my friend Thorne are not the best friends in the world.'

'No, Mr. Gresham, no; I may go so far as to say we are not.'

'Well, I am sorry for it'

'Perhaps, Mr. Gresham, we need hardly discuss it; but there have been circumstances'

'I am not going to discuss anything, Dr. Fillgrave; I say I am sorry for it, because I believe that prudence will imperatively require Lady Arabella to have Doctor Thorne back again. Now, if you would not object to meet him'

'Mr. Gresham, I beg pardon; I beg pardon, indeed; but you must really excuse me. Doctor Thorne has, in my estimation'

But, Doctor Fillgrave'

'Mr. Gresham, you really must excuse me; you really must, indeed. Anything else that I could do for Lady Arabella, I should be most happy to do; but after what has passed, I cannot meet Doctor Thorne; I really cannot. You must not ask me to do so, Mr. Gresham. And, Mr. Gresham,' continued the doctor, 'I did understand from Lady Arabella that his—that is, Doctor Thorne's—conduct to her ladyship had been such—so very outrageous, I may say, that—that—that—of course, Mr. Gresham, you know best; but I did think that Lady Arabella herself was