"And gained the dearest girl in the world to love." "Don't talk absurdly, child," said Leigh, firmly. "I beg that you will not speak to me in that tone about Miss Wilton. Has Claud been again?" "I beg that you will not speak to me in that tone about Mr Wilton," said Jenny, with a mischievous look at her brother, who glanced at her sharply. "Claud Wilton is not such a bad fellow after all, I begin to think. All that horsey caddishness will, I daresay, wear off." "I am sorry for the poor woman who has to rub it off," said Jenny. "You did not tell me if he had called." "Yes, he did call." "Jenny!" "I didn't ask him to call, and he did not come to see me," said the girl demurely. "He wanted you, and left his card. I put it in the surgery. I think he said he had some news of his cousin." "Indeed?" said Leigh, starting. "When was this?" "Yesterday evening. But Pierce, dear, surely it is nothing to you. Don't go interfering, and perhaps make two poor people unhappy." Leigh turned upon her angrily. "What a good little girl you would be, Jenny, if you had been born without a tongue." "Yes," she said, "but I should not have been half a woman, Pierce, dear." "Did he say when he would come again?" "No." "Did he say more particularly what his news was?" "No, dear, and I did not ask him, knowing how particular you are about my being at all intimate with him." He gave her an angry glance, but she ignored it. "Anyone else been?" "Yes; there was a message from Mrs Smithers, saying she hoped you would drop in after dinner and see her. Her daughter came--the freckly one. The buzzing in her mother's head had begun again, and Miss Smithers says she is sure it is the port wine, for it always comes after her mother has been drinking port wine for a month." "Of course. She eats and drinks twice as much as is good for her.--Did young Wilton say anything about Northwood?" "Yes," said Jenny, carelessly. "The new doctor has got the parish work, but he isn't worked to death. Oh, by the way, there's a letter on the chimney-piece." Leigh rose and took it eagerly, frowning as he read it. "Bad news, Pierce, dear?" "Eh? Bad? Oh, dear no; I have to meet Dr Clifton in consultation at three to-morrow, at Sir Montague Russell's." "Oh! I say, Pierce dear, how rapidly you are picking up a practice!" "Yes," he said, with a sigh; and then with an effort to be cheerful, "How long will dinner be?" "Half an hour," said Jenny, after a glance at the clock, "and then I hope they will let you have a quiet evening. You have not been at home once this week." "Ah, yes, a quiet evening would be pleasant." "Thinking, Pierce dear?" said Jenny, after a pause.