“What, madam! Am not I a physician myself?” said the Doctor, making a pitiful attempt to assume his old manner. “Ah, sir! every moment I am more shocked,” said she. “I will take you in hand. I came here to beg of you to go to Barton in my interests, but now I will beg of you to go thither in your own.” “To Barton? Oh, my dear madam----” “Nay, sir, I insist! Ah! I might have known you better than to fancy I should easier prevail upon you by asking you to go to advance your own interests rather than mine. You were always more ready to help others than to help yourself.” “How is it possible, dear lady, that you need my poor help?” “Ah! I knew the best way to interest you. Dear friend, I know of no one who could be of the same help to us as you.” “There is no one who would be more willing, madam.” “You have proved it long ago, Dr. Goldsmith. When Mary had that mysterious indisposition, was not her recovery due to you? She announced that it was you, and you only, who had brought her back to life.” “Ah! my dear Jessamy Bride was always generous. Surely she is not again in need of my help.” “It is for her sake I come to you to-day, Dr. Goldsmith. I am sure that you are interested in her future--in the happiness which we all are anxious to secure for her.” “Happiness? What happiness, dear madam?” “I will tell you, sir. I look on you as one of our family--nay, I can talk with you more confidentially than I can with my own son.” “You have ever been indulgent to me, Mrs. Horneck.” “And you have ever been generous, sir; that is why I am here to-day. I know that Mary writes to you. I wonder if she has yet told you that Colonel Gwyn made her an offer with my consent.” “No; she has not told me that.” He spoke slowly, rising from his chair, but endeavoring to restrain the emotion which he felt. “It is not unlike Mary to treat the matter as if it were finally settled, and so not worthy of another thought,” said Mrs. Horneck. “Finally settled?” repeated Goldsmith. “Then she has accepted Colonel Gwyn's proposal?” “On the contrary, sir, she rejected it,” said the mother. He resumed his seat. Was the emotion which he experienced at that moment one of gladness? “Yes, she rejected a suitor whom we all considered most eligible,” said the lady. “Colonel Gwyn is a man of good family, and his own character is irreproachable. He is in every respect a most admirable man, and I am convinced that my dear child's happiness would be assured with him--and yet she sends him away from her.” “That is possibly because she knows her own mind--her own heart, I should rather say; and that heart the purest in the world.” “Alas! she is but a girl.” “Nay, to my mind, she is something more than a girl. No man that lives is worthy of her.”