‘And now, doctor, what are we to do about money?’

‘About money?’

’Yes; money, rhino, ready! “put money in your purse and cut a dash”; eh, doctor?  Not that I want to cut a dash.  No, I’m going on the quiet line altogether now:  I’ve done with that sort of thing.’

‘I’m heartily glad of it; heartily,’ said the doctor.

’Yes, I’m not going to make way for my far-away cousin yet; not if I know it, at least.  I shall soon be all right now, doctor; shan’t I?’

’"All right” is a long word, Sir Louis.  But I do hope you will be all right in time, if you will live with decent prudence.  You shouldn’t take that filth in the morning though.’

’Filth in the morning!  That’s my mother, I suppose!  That’s her ladyship!  She’s been talking, has she?  Don’t you believe her, doctor.  There’s not a young man in Barsetshire is going more regular, all right within the posts, than I am.’

The doctor was obliged to acknowledge that there did seem to be some improvement.

‘And now, doctor, how about money, eh?’

Doctor Thorne, like other guardians similarly circumstanced, began to explain that Sir Louis had already had a good deal of money, and had begun also to promise that more should be forthcoming in the event of good behaviour, when he was somewhat suddenly interrupted by Sir Louis.

’Well, now; I’ll tell you what, doctor; I’ve got a bit of news for you; something that I think will astonish you.’

The doctor opened his eyes, and tried to look as though ready to be surprised.

’Something that will really make you look about; and something, too, that will be very much to the hearer’s advantage,—­as the newspaper advertisements say.’

‘Something to my advantage?’ said the doctor.

’Well, I hope you’ll think so.  Doctor, what would you think now of my getting married?’

’I should be delighted to hear of it—­more delighted than I can express; that is, of course, if you were to marry well.  It was your father’s most eager wish that you should marry early.’

‘That’s partly my reason,’ said the young hypocrite.  ’But then if I marry I must have an income fit to live on; eh, doctor?’

The doctor had some fear that his interesting protege was desirous of a wife for the sake of the income, instead of desiring the income for the sake of the wife.  But let the cause be what it would, marriage would probably be good for him; and he had no hesitation, therefore, in telling him, that if he married well, he should be put in possession of sufficient income to maintain the new Lady Scatcherd in a manner becoming her dignity.

‘As to marrying well,’ said Sir Louis, ’you, I take it, will the be the last man, doctor, to quarrel with my choice.’

‘Will I?’ said the doctor, smiling.

’Well, you won’t disapprove, I guess, as the Yankee says.  What would you think of Miss Mary Thorne?’