But he suited Lady Ethel, or she fancied he did; which answered the purpose quite as well. She had always detested very young men; she liked a man whom she could look up to and lean upon, and certainly this she could do with perfect faith as regarded her _fiance_. Now Duchesses are no more exempt from the weary ills which weak flesh is heir to than their less favoured brothers and sisters, and in the early summer the Duchess began to complain of certain aches and pains and to bethink her that Sir John's advice might be worth following; so she drove over to Camelot Square and was shown into the waiting room with the rest of his patients. She had some little time to wait, and while the Duchess sat tapping her foot impatiently at the delay, Ethel looked round the spacious apartment and decided on certain improvements she would effect when she should preside over John's establishment. And then the door was flung open, and Soames, the eminently correct footman, ushered them into his master's presence. The Duchess advanced gushing a little. "So good of you to see us so soon! I was positively timid at coming without an appointment, even with Ethel." "It is you who are good, Duchess, to give me such an unexpected pleasure." Sir John touched Ethel's cheek lightly with his lips and motioned his visitors to be seated. "Now is not that a pretty speech from a professional man! Ah, you lovers, you are all alike, and when you are married--Ah! then you are all the same." "What an accusation! I hope Ethel does not credit it, or I shall never be permitted an opportunity of refuting such a calumny." "I know too well how highly Mamma thinks of you, John," said Ethel, prettily. "Well, I admit it--I do admire you immensely--I admire your power, your position, your ability to make an income--a large income, sitting comfortably in an arm chair. And then there is such solidity in a doctor's profession--people are always ill." "Mamma is ill herself," broke in Lady Ethel, "and that is why we have intruded to-day." "I hope it is nothing serious, my dear Duchess." "How sweet of you! Ah, I am a martyr! I have hay fever to such a distressing extent that I am positively ashamed to go into society." Her daughter laughed. "We were at the Opera last night, and Mamma's sneezes were most _mal-a-propos._ It was very embarrassing." "Yes, I am convinced that Romeo glowered at me, and at church on Sunday it was such a charming sermon, so encouraging and tactful, I sneezed violently in the man's best moments. At my age I cannot consent to become a public infliction, yet I feel I am a nuisance." "Mamma said, as soon as we got home--'I shall go and consult Sir John,'" cooed Ethel. "And now you can cure me?" The Duchess looked anxiously into the grave face opposite. "I have not the slightest doubt you will be entirely recovered in a few days at most," said Sir John reassuringly; "you have caught a severe cold."