But Dr. Davenal did not satisfy him: not that he had any particular motive for observing reticence on the point. "It is of no consequence. I must have been mistaken," was all he said. "You will not forbid her to me, sir?" pleaded Mr. Cray. A spasm of pain passed across the face of Dr. Davenal; the words had called up bitter recollections. "So long as I live I shall never forbid a marriage to any over whom I hold control," he said, in a tone of subdued anguish; and Mark Cray knew where the sting had pointed, and wished in his good-nature he had not put the question. "I will urge all reflection, caution, prudence in my power to urge; but I will not forbid. Least of all have I a right to do so by Caroline." The younger man's face lighted up. "Then you will give her to me, Dr. Davenal?" "I give you no promise," was the doctor's answer. "I must have leisure to reflect on this; it has taken me entirely by surprise. And I must speak to Caroline. There's plenty of time. To marry yet would indeed be premature." "Premature!" echoed Mr. Cray. "Premature in the extreme. A man who does not know how to wait for good things, Mark, does not deserve them." A lady, with a slow walk and pale face, turned in at the front gate. It was patient the first. Dr. Davenal made no observation; he scarcely saw her, so deeply had he plunged into thought. Mr. Cray, who stood closer to the window than a doctor expecting patients generally does stand, smiled and bowed. "It is Mrs. Scott," he observed, as the knocker sounded. "She looks very ill today." Attentive Neal was heard to come forth instantly from his pantry, open the door, and show the lady into the dining-room. Then he made his appearance in his master's room. "Mrs. Scott, sir!" Instead of the "Show her in," as Neal expected, Dr. Davenal merely nodded. Mr. Cray made a movement to depart, glancing as he did so, at the very grave face of his senior partner. "I have vexed you, sir!" "I feel vexed in this first moment, Mark; I can't deny it," was the candid answer. "It is not altogether that Caroline might have been expected to do better; it is not exclusively that I think her peculiarly unfitted for a making-shift life, or that with regard to her I feel my responsibility is weighty: but it is a mixture of all three." "You consider, perhaps, I have done wrong to ask for her!" "I consider you have done wrong to ask for her so prematurely. In your place, I think I should have waited a little while, until circumstances had been more propitious." "And perhaps have lost Caroline!" "Nay," said the doctor; "a girl that cannot wait, and be true while she waits, is not worth a brass button." He quitted the room as he spoke. At the risk of keeping his patients waiting, he must find and question Caroline. His mind was not at ease.