"I have not deceived you, Charlotte," he said, "for I do not believe your father to be seriously ill." He fixed his keen gray eyes on her face as he spoke. She returned his gaze without shrinking. "Still you do think him ill?" she said. "Well, any one to look at him must admit that he is not what he was." "Just so, Uncle Jasper. So you have told me very many times, when you have feared my troubling him on certain matters. Now it has come to me from another source that he is very ill. My eyes have been opened, and I see the fact myself. I wish to learn the simple and exact truth. I wish to see the doctor he has consulted." "How do you know he has consulted any?" "Has he?" Uncle Jasper was silent for a moment. He felt in a difficulty. Did Charlotte know the worst, she might postpone her marriage, the last thing to be desired just now; and yet where had she got her information? It was awkward enough, though he felt a certain sense of relief in thus accounting for the change in her appearance since yesterday morning. He got up and approached her side softly. "My dear, I do own that your father is ill. I own, too, that I have, by his most express wish, made as light of the matter to you as I could. The fact is, Charlotte, he is anxious, very anxious, about himself. He thinks himself much worse than I believe him to be; but his strongest desire is, that now, on the eve of your marriage, you should not be alarmed on his account. I firmly believe you have no cause for any special fear. Ought you not to respect his wishes, and rest satisfied without seeking to know more than he and I tell you? I will swear, Charlotte, if that is any consolation to you, that I am not immediately anxious about your father." "You need not swear, Uncle Jasper. Your not being anxious does not prevent my being so. I am determined to find out the exact truth. If he thinks himself very ill he has, of course, consulted some medical man. If you will not tell me his name I will myself ask my father to do so to-night." "By so doing you will shock him, and the doctor does not wish him to be shocked." "Just so, Uncle Jasper, and you can spare him that by telling me what you know." "My dear niece, if you _will_ have it?" "I certainly am quite resolved, uncle." "Well, well, you approach this subject at your peril. If you _must_ see the doctor you must. Wilful woman over again. Would you like me to go with you?" "No, thank you; I prefer to go alone. What is the doctor's name?" "Sir George Anderson, of B---- Street." "I will go to him at once," said Charlotte.