“Ah, yes. You may take my word for it, madam, she has got over that foolishness,” said Goldsmith. “You may take my word for it that when she sees me the roses will return to her cheeks.” “I do hope so,” said Mrs. Horneck. “Yes, you could always contrive to make her merry, Dr. Goldsmith. We have all missed you lately; we feared that that disgraceful letter in the _Packet_ had affected you. That was why my son called upon you at your rooms. I hope he assured you that nothing it contained would interfere with our friendship.” “That was very kind of you, my dear madam,” said he; “but I have seen Mary since that thing appeared.” “To be sure you have. Did you not think that she looked very ill?” “Very ill indeed, madam; but I am ready to give you my assurance that when I have been half an hour with her she will be on the way to recovery. You have not, I fear, much confidence in my skill as a doctor of medicine, and, to tell you the truth, whatever your confidence in this direction may amount to, it is a great deal more than what I myself have. Still, I think you will say something in my favour when you see Mary's condition begin to improve from the moment we have a little chat together.” “That is wherein I have the amplest confidence in you, dear Dr. Goldsmith. Your chat with her will do more for her than all the medicine the most skilful of physicians could prescribe. It was a very inopportune time for her to fall sick.” “I think that all sicknesses are inopportune. But why Mary's?” “Well, I have good reason to believe, Dr. Goldsmith, that had she not steadfastly refused to see a certain gentleman who has been greatly attracted by her, I might now have some happy news to convey to you.” “The gentleman's name is Colonel Gwyn, I think.” He spoke in a low voice and after a long pause. “Ah, you have guessed it, then? You have perceived that the gentleman was drawn toward her?” said the lady smiling. “I have every reason to believe in his sincerity,” said Goldsmith. “And you think that if Mary had been as well as she usually has been, she would have listened to his proposals, madam?” “Why should she not have done so, sir?” said Mrs. Horneck. “Why not, indeed?” “Colonel Gwyn would be a very suitable match for her,” said she. “He is, to be sure, several years her senior; that, however, is nothing.” “You think so--you think that a disparity in age should mean nothing in such a case?” said Oliver, rather eagerly. “How could any one be so narrowminded as to think otherwise?” cried Mrs. Horneck. “Whoever may think otherwise, sir, I certainly do not. I hope I am too good a mother, Dr. Goldsmith. Nay, sir, I could not stand between my daughter and happiness on such a pretext as a difference in years. After all, Colonel Gwyn is but a year or two over thirty--thirty-seven, I believe--but he does not look more than thirty-five.”