The Doctor has not spoken without authority, since Maverick, in his reply to the parson's suggestions respecting marriage, has urged that the party was totally unfit, to a degree of which the parson himself was a witness, and by further hints had served fully to identify, in the mind of the old gentleman, poor Madame Arles with the mother of Adele. A knowledge of this fact had grievously wounded the Doctor; he could not cease to recall the austerity with which he had debarred the poor woman all intercourse with Adele upon her sick-bed. And it seemed to him a grave thing, wherever sin might lie, thus to alienate the mother and daughter. His unwitting agency in the matter had made him of late specially mindful of all the wishes and even caprices of Adele,--much to the annoyance of Miss Eliza. "Adaly, my child, you are very dear to me," said he; and she stood by him now, toying with those gray locks of his, in a caressing manner which he could never know from a child of his own,--never. "If it be your wish to change your home for the little time that remains, it shall be. I have your father's authority to do so." "Indeed I do wish it, New Papa";--and she dropped a kiss upon his forehead,--upon the forehead where so few tender tokens of love had ever fallen, or ever would fall. Yet it was very grateful to the old gentleman, though it made him think with a sigh of the lost ones. The Doctor talked over the affair with Miss Eliza, who avowed herself as eager as Adele for a change in her home, and suggested that Benjamin should take counsel with his old friend, Mr. Elderkin; and it is quite possible that she shrewdly anticipated the result of such a consultation. Certain it is that the old Squire caught at the suggestion in a moment. "The very thing, Doctor! I see how it is. Miss Eliza is getting on in years; a little irritable, possibly,--though a most excellent person, Doctor,--most excellent! and there being no young people in the house, it's a little dull for Miss Adele, eh, Doctor? Grace, you know, is not with us this winter; so your lodger shall come straight to my house, and she shall take the room of Grace, and Rose will be delighted, and Mrs. Elderkin will be delighted; and as for Phil, when he happens with us,--as he does only off and on now,--he'll be falling in love with her, I haven't a doubt; or, if he doesn't, I shall be tempted to myself. She's a fine girl, eh, Doctor?" "She's a good Christian, I believe," said the Doctor gravely. "I haven't a doubt of it," said the Squire; "and I hope that a bit of a dance about Christmas time, if we should fall into that wickedness, wouldn't harm her on that score,--eh, Doctor?" "I should wish, Mr. Elderkin, that she maintain her usual propriety of conduct, until she is again in her father's charge." "Well, well, Doctor, you shall talk with Mrs. Elderkin of that matter."