"Yes, Mr Leigh, and the leg's stronger now than the other," interposed Mrs Wilton. "How do you know, Maria?" said her husband gruffly. "Well, my dear, you've often said so." "Humph! Come in again and see Miss Wilton, Doctor, and I shall feel obliged," said the uncle. "Good morning. The dog-cart is waiting to drive you back. I'll send and have you fetched about--er--four?" "It would be better if it were left till seven or eight, unless, of course, there is need." "Eight o'clock, then," said Wilton; and Pierce Leigh bowed and left the room, with the peculiar sensation growing once more in his breast, and lasting till he reached home, thinking of how long it would be before eight o'clock arrived. CHAPTER FIVE. "I should very much like to know what particular sin I have committed that I should have been plagued all my life with a stupid, garrulous old woman for a wife, who cannot be left an hour without putting her foot in it some way or another." "Ah, you did not say so to me once, James," sighed Mrs Wilton. "No, a good many hundred times. It's really horrible." "But James--" "There, do hold your tongue--if you can, woman. First you get inviting that young ruffian of John Garstang's to stay when he comes down." "But, my dear, it was Claud. You know how friendly those two always have been." "Yes, to my sorrow; but you coaxed him to stay." "Really, my dear, I could not help it without being rude." "Then why weren't you rude? Do you want him here, fooling about that girl till she thinks he loves her and marries him?" "Oh, no, dear, it would be horrid. But you don't think--" "Yes, I do, fortunately," snapped Wilton. "Why don't you think?" "I do try to, my dear." "Bah! Try! Then you want to bring in those locusts of Morrisons. It's bad enough to know that the money goes there if Kate dies, without having them hanging about and wanting her to go." "I'm very, very sorry, James. I wish I was as clever as you." "So do I. Then, as soon as you are checked in that, you dodge round and invite that Doctor, who's a deuced sight too good-looking, to come again, and ask him to bring his sister." "But, my dear, it will do Kate so much good, and she really seems very nice." "Nice, indeed! I wish you were. I believe you are half mad." "Really, James, you are too bad, but I won't resent it, for I want to go up to Kate; but if someone here is mad, it is not I." "Yes, it is. Like a weak fool I spoke plainly to you about my plans." "If you had always done so we should have been better off and not had to worry about getting John Garstang's advice, with his advances and interests, and mortgages and foreclosures." "You talk about what you don't understand, woman," said Wilton, sharply. "Can't you see that it is to our interest to keep the poor girl here? Do you want to toss her amongst a flock of vulture-like relatives, who will devour her?" "Why, of course not, dear." "But you tried to."