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Rh unnecessary to repeat the operation; and above all, he added, quiet and tranquillity were of the utmost and last importance.

Lady De Brooke again looked with severity on the General, which, had he interpreted it, meant to reproach him, from the probable nature of the conference he had held with his father, with being the cause that he then experienced a return of fever. Undaunted by a possibility of dying, yet encouraged by the physician, Sir Aubrey, as well as his Lady, was inclined to suppose his malady might terminate favourably.

On the doctor communicating with his patient, De Brooke withdrew. Truly solicitous for the recovery of his father, he did not omit to call frequently, when he was sometimes accidentally admitted, but oftener dismissed with the message, "My master is too ill to allow of being seen." Mortified at these denials, which seemed to put him on the level of a stranger, he often thought it possible his name was not announced to his father, and that he was kept in perfect ignorance of his visits. It was easy for him to discern that his presence near his father was not agreeable to her Ladyship; and which truly was the real motive why he was so seldom allowed the interview he sought.