The dinner passed off without any further incident, save that Mr Rawlinson returned looking very quiet and calm, and in time for the second course, of which he partook heartily, rising after the dessert to open the door for Miss Stonor to leave the room, and all in the most natural manner. "Suppose we go into my room a bit now," said the doctor. "We can have a cigar there;" and Daniel entering at that moment with coffee, it was taken into the doctor's sanctum, the patients following the tray, the doctor hanging back with his principal guest. "Well, my dear John, do you think you are going mad now?" "No," was the quick reply. "Of course not. You see now what even a mild form of mania is." "I do," was the reply. "But look here, doctor," said Huish earnestly; "this feeling has troubled me terribly just lately." "And why?" said the doctor sharply, for Huish hesitated. "Well, the fact is, doctor, it is possible that I may marry some day, and I felt--" "Yes, of course, I know," said the doctor; "you felt, and quite rightly, that it would be a crime to marry some sweet young girl if you had the seeds of insanity waiting to develop themselves in your brain." "Yes, doctor, that was it." "My dear John Huish, you are a bit of a favourite of mine, and I like you much." "Thank you, doctor, I--" "I made the acquaintance of your father and mother in a peculiar manner, and they have always trusted me since." "Yes; I have heard something of it from it my father, but--" "Just hold your tongue and listen to me, sir. You have, I am sure, chosen some sweet, gentle, good girl; nothing else would suit you. So all I have to say is this: your brain is as right as that of any man living. Marry her, and the sooner the better. I like these young marriages, and hang all those musty old fogies who preach about improvidence and so many hundreds a year! Marry early, while you and the woman you love are in the first flush of your youth and vigour. It's nature--it's holy--and the good God smiles upon it. Damn it all, sir! it makes me savage to see a wretched, battered old fellow being chosen by a scheming mother of the present day as a husband for her child. Money and title will not compensate for youth. It's a wrong system, John Huish, a wrong system. I'm a doctor, and I ought to know. Marry, then, my dear boy, as soon as you like, and God bless you!" "Thank you, doctor, thank you," said Huish, smiling. "But I say, doctor, if it is not impertinence, why didn't you marry young?" "Because I was a fool. I wanted to make money and a name in my profession, and did not calculate what would be the cost. They cost me thirty years, John Huish, and now I am an old fogey, content to try and do some good among my poor patients. But come away; they will think me rude. Eh, going now? Well, I will not say stop, as you have so far to go back. One more word: think your head's screwed on right now?" "Yes, doctor."