"Not near enough to make your conscience uneasy, but just enough to make him soft and workable. Sick men are the ones to make their wills, I can tell you. A hale, hearty man is as obstinate as a bull." "Look here, Hampton, if you expect me to degrade my noble profession by aiding and abetting in any dishonourable act, you are confoundedly mistaken, sir, and I wish you a very good morning." The doctor seized his hat and stick, put on the former with a bang which threatened injury to the skin of his forehead, and was going out of the room when he received a slap on the back, and faced round fiercely, to find the lawyer smiling as he held out his hand. "What a confounded old pepper-box you are, Lawrence! Hang it, man! who wants to do anything dishonourable? Do you think I do? Now, after knowing me all these years, do you think it likely?" "No," cried the doctor, slapping his hand loudly into that of his friend; "but you shouldn't look so serious when you are cracking a joke." "That's the perfection of joking, my dear boy. Seriously, though, I shall try and force him into making heavy settlements upon that poor girl." "By all means do; and I'd give something if we could break off the match." "What do you say to forging a new will, forbidding the banns--eh?" The doctor looked into the dry and mirthful countenance before him, shook his head, and went to the door. "See you at dinner at The Mynns on Wednesday, I suppose?" "Oh, yes," said the lawyer, "for certain. We live there now, and if it was not for poor little Gertrude, I should be very glad when emancipation day came." CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. SAUL'S INVITATION. Mr Hampton was quite right; Gertrude had nerved herself to the sacrifice, and looked forward to the wedding-day, although with apprehension, still with something akin to eagerness. "But you don't love him, my dear," said Mrs Hampton, "and is it right for you to go to the altar like that?" Gertrude was silent and thoughtful for some minutes before she raised her large clear eyes, and gazed full in the old lady's face. "Yes," she said, "I think it is right. I shall have influence over him which will grow, and I shall then have the right to speak with authority--as his wife." Mrs Hampton sighed and shook her head. "You have no faith," said Gertrude, smiling, "I have. The real nature of which my dear guardian spoke is only hidden away, crusted over by the rough life George has led. Once we are married, he will think of his duties toward me, and he will change back to what he was." "Well, I hope so, my dear, for your sake, and you must forgive me because I am not so sanguine as I was at your age. I tell you what I would do first, though, if I were you." "Yes?" "Get rid of Saul Harrington."