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Rh she also nodded and winked, and directed Augusta to prepare the salt according to order.

'But won't it be odd, Mr. Gazebee, asking him out of Doctor Thorne's house?'

'Oh, we must have the doctor, too, Lady Arabella; by all means ask the doctor also.'

Lady Arabella's brow grew dark. 'Mr. Gazebee,' she said, 'you can hardly believe how that man has behaved to me.'

'He is altogether beneath your anger,' said Mr. Gazebee, with a bow.

'I don't know: in one way he may be, but not in another. I really do not think I can sit down to table with Doctor Thorne.'

But, nevertheless, Mr. Gazebee gained his point. It was now about a week since Sir Omicron Pie had been at Greshamsbury, and the squire had, almost daily, spoken to his wife as to that learned man's last advice. Lady Arabella always answered in the same tone: 'You can hardly know, Mr. Gresham, how that man has insulted me.' But, nevertheless, the physician's advice had not been disbelieved: it tallied too well with her own inward convictions. She was anxious enough to have Doctor Thorne back at her bedside, if she could only get him there without damage to her pride. Her husband, she thought, might probably send the doctor there without absolute permission from herself; in which case she would have been able to scold, and show that she was offended; and, at the same time, profit by what had been done. But Mr. Gresham never thought of taking so violent a step as this, and, therefore, Dr. Fillgrave still came, and her ladyship's finesse was wasted in vain.

But Mr. Gazebee's proposition, opened a door by which her point might be gained. 'Well,' said she, at last, with infinite self-denial, 'if you think it is for Mr. Gresham's advantage, and if he chooses to ask Dr. Thorne, I will not refuse to receive him.'

Mr. Gazebee's next task was to discuss the matter with the squire. Nor was this easy, for Mr. Gazebee was no favourite with Mr. Gresham. But the task was at last performed successfully. Mr. Gresham was so glad at heart to find himself able, once more, to ask his old friend to his own house; and, though it would have pleased him better that this sign of relenting on his wife's part should have reached him by other means, he did not refuse to take advantage of it; and so he wrote the above letter to Dr. Thorne.

The doctor, as we have said, read it twice; and he at once resolved stoutly that he would not go.

'Oh, do, do go!' said Mary. She well knew how wretched this feud had made her uncle. 'Pray, pray go!'