Lady Arabella sighed.  She did not wish at the present moment to express herself as being in any way proud of Frank.  She was desirous rather, on the other hand, of showing that she was a good deal ashamed of him; only not quite so much ashamed of him as it behoved the doctor to be of his niece.’

‘Well, perhaps so; yes,’ said Lady Arabella, ’he is, I believe, a very good young man, with an excellent disposition; but, doctor, his position is very precarious; and he is just at that time of life when caution is necessary.’

To the doctor’s ears, Lady Arabella was now talking of her son as a mother might of her infant when whooping-cough was abroad our croup imminent.  ’There is nothing on earth the matter with him, I should say,’ said the doctor.  ‘He has every possible sign of perfect health.’

’Oh yes; his health!  Yes, thank God, his health is good; that is a great blessing.’  And Lady Arabella thought of her four flowerets that had already faded.  ’I am sure I am most thankful to see him growing up so strong.  But it is not that I mean, doctor.’

‘Then what is it, Lady Arabella?’

‘Why, doctor, the squire’s position with regard to money matters.’

Now the doctor undoubtedly did know the squire’s position with regard to money matters,—­knew it much better than Lady Arabella; but he was by no means inclined to talk on that subject to her ladyship.  He remained quite silent, therefore, although Lady Arabella’s last speech had taken the form of a question.  Lady Arabella was a little offended at this want of freedom on his part, and become somewhat sterner in her tone—­a thought less condescending in her manner.

’The squire has unfortunately embarrassed the property, and Frank must look forward to inherit it with very heavy encumbrances; I fear very heavy indeed, though of what exact nature I am kept in ignorance.’

Looking at the doctor’s face, she perceived that there was no probability whatever that her ignorance would be enlightened by him.

’And, therefore, it is highly necessary that Frank should be very careful.’

‘As to his private expenditure, you mean?’ said the doctor.

’No; not exactly that:  though of course he must be careful as to that, too; that’s of course.  But that is not what I mean, doctor; his only hope of retrieving his circumstances is by marrying money.’

’With every other conjugal blessing that a man can have, I hope he may have that also.’  So the doctor replied with imperturbable face; but not the less did he begin to have a shade of suspicion of what might be the coming subject of the conference.  It would be untrue to say that he had ever thought it probable that the young heir should fall in love with his niece; that he had ever looked forward to such a chance, either with complacency or with fear; nevertheless, the idea had of late passed through his mind.  Some word had fallen from Mary, some