has been well trained in the management of children.  And it makes her impatient, and annoyed, and unhappy, when she sees the squire giving the child nuts and ale, and all sorts of silly indulgences, and spoiling him in every possible way.  Yet she’s a coward, and doesn’t speak out her mind.  Now by being in lodgings, and having her own servants—­nice pretty rooms they are, too; we went to see them, and Mrs. Jennings promises to attend well to Mrs Osborne Hamley, and is very much honoured, and all that sort of thing—­not ten minutes’ walk from the Hall, too, so that she and the little chap may easily go backwards and forwards as often as they like, and yet she may keep the control over her child’s discipline and diet.  In short, I think I’ve done a good day’s work,’ he continued, stretching himself a little; and then with a shake rousing himself, and making ready to go out again; to see a patient who had sent for him in his absence.

‘A good day’s work!’ he repeated to himself as he ran downstairs.  ’I don’t know when I have been so happy!’ For he had not told Molly all that had passed between him and Roger.  Roger had begun a fresh subject of conversation just as Mr. Gibson was hastening away from the Hall, after completing the new arrangement for Aimee and her child.

‘You know that I set off next Tuesday, Mr. Gibson, don’t you?’ said Roger, a little abruptly.

’To be sure.  I hope you’ll be as successful in all your scientific objects as you were the last time, and have no sorrows awaiting you when you come back.’

’Thank you.  Yes.  I hope so.  You don’t think there’s any danger of infection now, do you?’

’No!  If the disease were to spread through the household, I think we should have had some signs of it before now.  One is never sure, remember, with scarlet fever.

Roger was silent for a minute or two.  ‘Should you be afraid,’ he said at length, ‘of seeing me at your house?’

’Thank you; but I think I would rather decline the pleasure of your society there at present.  It’s only three weeks or a month since the child began.  Besides, I shall be over here again before you go.  I’m always on my guard against symptoms of dropsy.  I have known it supervene.’

‘Then I shall not see Molly again!’ said Roger, in a tone and with a look of great disappointment.

Mr. Gibson turned his keen, observant eyes upon the young man, and looked at him in as penetrating a manner as if he had been beginning with an unknown illness.  Then the doctor and the father compressed his lips and gave vent to a long intelligent whistle.  ‘Whew!’ said he.

Roger’s bronzed cheeks took a deeper shade.

’You will take a message to her from me, won’t you?  A message of farewell?’ he pleaded.

’Not I. I’m not going to be a message-carrier between any young man and young woman.  I’ll tell my womankind I forbade you to come near the house, and that you’re sorry to go away without bidding good-by.  That’s all I shall say.’