Page:The Semi-detached House.djvu/281

 The Baroness was so charmed at finding herself classed by this fashionable physician with the fine ladies of the day, that she rallied; and while Dr. Ayscough was writing her prescription, tried a little light talk on the subject of the Chesters—pitied them for the privations that the poverty, with which she chose to endow them, imposed upon them—she believed Lady Chester sent for the village apothecary when she was taken ill, and depended for a nurse on the good offices of a Mrs. Hopkins, or some name of that kind, a neighbour. "To be sure, young people are right not to run into debt; but I cannot fancy putting up with anything second rate myself, indeed the Baron would not hear it from me, he always says, 'Nothing second rate for you, Baroness, whatever money can buy, you can have, only let it be the best.

"Well, if money can buy a Mrs. Hopkinson," said Dr. Ayscough, drily, "it can do more than I have ever supposed. Mrs. Hopkinson has been a valuable friend to Lady Chester, who required constant and great