"Thomas Hardon, Esq, MD," sat at his breakfast-table in his dressing-gown, but his black frock-coat lay upon a chair at his side, ready brushed, and the rest of his costume was of the correct doctorial black. He did not even allow himself to sit down in slippers, but wore boots of the most lustrous black until bedtime. Of an imposing presence, with fine grey hair, a good complexion, sufficiently stout, he was the very acme of a quiet family doctor; and even if he was not so skilful as he might have been, there was that in his quiet ease and assumption which often gave confidence, and insured faith in trembling patients--matters which had before now worked wonders when the doctor's medicine alone would have failed. The world is much given to taking people at their own value, and undoubtedly by those who merely looked at the surface, a much higher price would have been set upon the doctor in that imposing suit of black, and that stiffest of stiff white neckcloths, than upon friend Matthew Space in his black shabbiness. But then, of course, the doctor's double gold eyeglass, gold-chain, studs, diamond ring, and the shape of his repeater seen through the soft black kerseymere waistcoat, added weight in people's estimation, without taking into consideration that air of profundity, and shake of the noble grey head, which implied so much at so little expense of thought. People at Somesham shook their heads with the doctor, and declared him to be a man of worth; while other people there were who shook their heads with his brother Octavius, and considered him a sham. But people joined in speaking well of his wife--downright, blunt, plain-spoken Mrs Hardon--who now sat, pale-faced and anxious, opposite to her husband, supplying his wants, while she waited for an answer to her last question, her hand slightly trembling as it held a letter the doctor had lately passed to her. "You will let me answer this, Tom, won't you?" she said gently, with all the motherly woman in her tones, and the hard, business, doctor's wife, who often made up his medicines, and even prescribed in simple cases in his absence, gone. "You will let me answer this, Tom?" The doctor kept his paper before his face, and read on without condescending to reply. "Tom," she repeated, leaning towards him, "Tom, be tender and gentle now, Tom; and--" Mrs Hardon stopped; for a maid had entered the room with a note, which she handed to Mrs Hardon. "Confound you!" hissed the doctor as soon as the door was closed; and then, instead of the mild, beaming doctorial countenance, there was his brother's angry face scowling on his wife--"Confound you! how many times have I told you not to `Tom' me before the servants? No, no, no! if you will have an answer," he shouted; "let her starve--let her die--let her jump off one of the bridges if she likes; she left me, and she may suffer for it. She sha'n't come back here to disgrace me in my profession."