"Not at present, certainly. I should not fancy the Captain and Mrs. Derinzy knowing anything about your flight in search of old Hildebrand. It is preferable that I should gravely and authoritatively declare their niece to require the care of this eminent physician, of whose competence I am thoroughly assured; and I shall direct that Miss Derinzy be placed under his charge as authoritatively, but also in as matter-of-course a fashion, as if it were merely a case of 'the mixture as before.' There is no better way of managing people than of steadily ignoring the fact that any management is requisite, and also that remonstrance is possible. I shall adopt that course, and I answer for my success. Miss Derinzy shall be under Dr. Hildebrand's care in a week from this time; and I trust the experiment will be successful." "Are you going there now?" "I am going there at once." "I should like to go with you--not into the house, you know--so as to know as soon as possible." "Very well; come along, then. You can sit in the carriage, while I go in and see my patient. Be quick; we can discuss details on our way." Two minutes more saw George Wainwright seated beside his father in one of the least pretentious and best-appointed broughams in London, to the displacement of sundry books and pamphlets, the indefatigable Doctor's inseparable companions. "You are acquainted with Mrs. Stothard, I presume," said the Doctor, "and aware of her true position in the family: partly nurse, partly companion, partly keeper to my patient." George winced as his father completed this sentence, but unperceived. "Yes," he replied, "I do know her: a disagreeable, designing, unpleasant person--strong-minded decidedly." "Strong-bodied too; and needing to be so sometimes, I am sorry to say." George winced again. "I shall give my directions to _her_. She must accompany Miss Derinzy. She is faithful to the girl's interest; and would be a cool and deliberate opponent of the Derinzys if there were any occasion for open opposition, which there will not be." "She is of a strange, concentrated nature," said George. "I don't think she loves Annette." "Oh dear no; I should say not," rejoined the Doctor. "I fancy she does not love anybody--not even herself much--and cares for nothing in the world beyond her interests; but she is wise enough to know they will be best served by her fulfilment of her duty, and practical enough to act on the knowledge--not an invariable combination. She has behaved well in Miss Derinzy's case; and she may always be relied upon to do what I tell her." "Should no one else accompany Annette?" "Well, yes; I think I shall send one of our own people--Collis is a capital fellow, as good as any courier at travelling, and can be trusted not to talk when he comes back. Yes, I'll send Collis," said the Doctor, in a tone of decision.