"Look like an old professional man, Aunt," he said, laughing, but with a touch of bitterness in his tone. "So much the better for me. The world goes by appearances. It does not like boyish looking surgeons." "Ah! it's a very foolish world, my dear. But now, look here. I am going to have a little extra dinner to-day because Sir Cheltnam is coming, and I want you to promise to come and take your father's place." "Ask Alison." "No, my dear; you are the elder, and I ask you. Time after time I've had nice things got ready, and you have refused to dine with us. Now promise me you will come this evening." "Oh, very well, Aunt, if it will please you." "Thank you, my dear; that's very good of you. It will please me very much." "That's right, then. And, by the way, Aunt, I shall be going back in a few days." "Going back, my dear?" "Yes; my father can be left now." "Then the nurse will go with you?" she said, with a look of suspicion in her eyes. "No, Aunt," he said coldly. "Nurse Elisia will stay here as long as my father desires to have her at his side." "Oh, very well," said Aunt Anne, rustling her dress; "it is just as your father likes. You are a terribly headstrong race, you Elthornes." "Including yourself, Aunt?" "Oh, no, my dear. I take after my mother's family. But it is nothing to me. I am not going to interfere. All I say is that I hope everything is for the best." "And I hope the same, Aunt," said Neil cheerfully. "It's all self-denial through life, eh?" "Always, my dear. Then you will dress to-night, and come?" "Oh, yes, Aunt; I'll come." "Then we shall have a decent dinner," thought Aunt Anne, as she went back to the drawing room. "I'm sorry that woman is not going, but I'm glad she is not going up with Neil. Now suppose, after all, he is giving her up! Oh, if I could only get poor Alison to be as sensible, instead of growing more infatuated by that creature every day!" Neil settled down to his books at once, seeking in study for the cure of his mental pains, but he had hardly begun to forget the events of the morning in an abstruse theory of muscular disease, when there was another tap on the panel, and in obedience to the cry, "Come in!" Isabel hurriedly entered and closed the door. "Ah, my dear!" he said; and she looked at him wonderingly, his tone and manner were so different to their wont. This gave her encouragement, and begat her confidence, so that she ran to him, sank on her knees by his chair, and took his hands. "Why, what's this?" he cried. "Anything the matter?" "Yes, Neil, dear," she said. "I'm in trouble, and I want you to help me." "Trouble? Help? Well, what is it, baby?" "Don't laugh at me, Neil," she whispered in a broken voice. "Sir Cheltnam Burwood is coming to dinner." "Yes. Aunt has just been to tell me. What of that?"