While Dunbar was fixing his mind upon the attainment of wealth and professional distinctions as ends, Doctor Hudson was seeking with untiring industry to perfect his knowledge of medical science by reading, observation, and experiment; not so much as the means of rising in the world as from a desire to increase his skill and gain a wider circle of influence. It would not do to say that he was free from selfish ends; no man is free from them. But he understood that to be governed by selfish considerations was wrong, and he never permitted himself, when he was conscious that such considerations were prominent in his mind, to act from them. Thus instead of coming more and more under the dominion of purblind selfishness, he was daily rising superior to its enticements. He was truly rising in the world—rising in intelligence and usefulness, and rising above the corrupt and debasing tendencies of our evil nature. And his family rose with him. No one was depressed that he might be elevated; no one pushed aside that his way might be clear. Only three times did Lawrence Dunbar and Doctor Hudson meet, after they had started on their race for eminence. Once in the office of the student, as already related. The second time they met was a few weeks after the marriage of Dunbar with the heiress. A large party was given by a wealthy family, in which Hudson had rendered eminent services in his profession. The doctor was highly esteemed by every member of this family, who knew his worth as a physician and as a man, and sought every opportunity to express the estimation in which they held him. His name and that of his lovely wife were among the first on the list, and the names of Dunbar and his wife among the last. Dunbar was invited for his wife's sake, who happened to be known to some members of the family. Doctor Baldwin and his lady were also in the number of guests. Not long after Doctor Hudson and his wife had entered, they saw Dunbar come into the parlors with a lady richly dressed upon his arm, and walk in some state amid the gay company. "Can that be his wife?" remarked Mrs. Hudson, when she at last got a fair view of the lady's face. "I presume it is," replied her husband. "Did you ever see a more repulsive countenance?" "One less prepossessing is rarely met," returned Mrs. Hudson, still looking intently into the lady's face. "But she has wealth, and is well connected, as the phrase is. These, no doubt, cover a multitude of defects." "They do not seem to have covered them in this case," said Mrs. Hudson, with a quiet smile, as she drew her arm closer within that of her husband. "At least they are very apparent this evening." "She has her good points, no doubt," remarked the doctor. "All persons have. We may not always determine the whole character from the face. Very good people sometimes have very homely countenances."