The stockbroker sat for some time in a state of amazement. At length he spoke. "I could not have imagined--I would not have believed--that the City of London contained such a fool. Here is a man, as poor as a rat, actually throwing away a hundred and fifty a year! He must be mad!" Mr Maybury breathed not a word at home of his interview with Mr Jefferson the elder. As for Harold, when he was informed by his father of the result of the conversation, he too marvelled greatly. But he did not think it necessary to mention the upshot of the interview to Dora. *CHAPTER XXII.* *THE WARNING.* On the same morning, at breakfast, Miss H. R. Maybury informed Jim that her sister was to be married to Harold Jefferson at the end of January. Miss Maybury kept a careful watch on Jim’s face while she imparted this piece of news, for she, like her stepmother, had for some time suspected the young doctor of not being entirely indifferent to Dora. Of the latter’s attitude towards Dr Mortimer Miss H. R. Maybury was in a state of aggravating doubt. She had a shrewd idea that Dora, on her part, was not insensible to such charms as Jim might possess, but she was not sure about it. She had quite unsuccessfully endeavoured to "draw" Dora on the subject, but Dora had listened to H. R.’s references to Jim with a blank countenance that told no tales and gave nothing away. On this occasion Jim was taken quite by surprise, and his face yielded up his secret. H. R., warily observing his expression, saw that she had been correct in her surmise. Dr Mortimer _was_ in love with her sister! "Indeed!" said Jim confusedly. "Rather soon, isn’t it?" "Yes, it has been a very short engagement," returned H. R.--"in fact, I don’t think myself that Dora ought to be married until she’s at least twenty--she is so _very_ young for her age! What do you think?" "It has never struck me that she was," replied Jim, beginning to regain his self-possession. "She is still a child in her thoughts," Miss Maybury declared. Jim, framing his opinion on the events of a certain walk Dora and he had taken in the Crescent one night, thought otherwise, but thought it quite to himself. "However," continued Miss Maybury, "it appears that Mr Jefferson has been advised by Dr Taplow to go abroad for a few months--until the worst of the winter is over." "He looks delicate," said Jim, grimly. "Yes, I’m afraid his chest is not too strong. Well, as I was saying, he has got to go abroad, and, as he can’t bear to leave Dora all that time, he thinks that the best plan will be for them to get married at once." Jim wondered whether Mr Jefferson’s delicate chest was his sole reason for hurrying on the marriage. "And so now," concluded Miss Maybury, "it will be all bustle and milliners until the important day, and I am afraid you poor men will be made rather uncomfortable."