“I shall exhibit nothing but the truth.” “What is the truth, Dick?” asked she. “I would rather have others tell it.” “I am under very great obligations to the doctor--I owe my life to him,” added Julia. “I hope you will spare him as much as you can.” “I cannot spare him at all; or rather he has not spared himself. If he will speak the truth, I will be as gentle with him as possible.” “That is all I ask.” “If you will excuse me, Miss Hungerford, I think you had better remain at home to-morrow.” “Why, Mr. Birch?” “You may hear something which will not be pleasant. As a friend of the doctor, I think you had better not heal any more of the trial.” “I thank you for your consideration. I will stay at home. But I would rather know the worst. Your words are really quite terrible to me. Won’t you tell me what you think the doctor’s motives were in coming to Poppleton?” pleaded Julia, who could not resist the painful and shocking conclusion that the demigod of Pine Hill was the cold, calculating villain which Dick had described him to be. “I am still under the shadow, Miss Hungerford,” replied Dick. “Nonsense!” exclaimed Eugene. “I protest against your shadows. I have never ceased to trust you.” “But your sister has.” “I have not, Mr. Birch. I confess that I was vexed at what you said in relation to me in the court. That is all.” “I could have made Dr. Lynch say all that I said,” added Dick, blushing and confused. “Nothing but regard for your feelings prevented me from doing so.” “You were very kind,” replied Julia, coloring crimson. “By the way, Hungerford, Lowe told me last night how he happened to press me so hard on my relations with your family,” continued Dick, trying to laugh off his confusion. “How was it?” “The doctor suggested the idea to him.” “Impossible!” “Lowe says so; he begins to see through the doctor, which was the reason why he told me of a fact he was asked to conceal. By the way, Ross Kingman has not a better friend than Lowe in the county, though, of course, he must do his duty.” “The doctor suggested it?” repeated Julia. “That is but a trifle, Miss Hungerford, compared with other things he has done.” “You have not answered my question yet, Mr. Birch. What were the doctor’s motives?” “In my opinion he intended to obtain one third of John Hungerford’s money!” “One third!” “One sixth in his own right, one sixth in yours,” replied Dick. “But he advised Eugene to marry Mary Kingman; and he overcame all my mother’s and my own objections to the marriage.” Mary had gone to the jail with Dr. Lynch to see Ross, or, of course, this could not have been said. “I do not know by what means he intended to effect his purpose; but I am satisfied that I have correctly stated his design.” “It is quite impossible, Mr. Birch,” persisted Julia. “He has labored to bring about the very event which would deprive him of his own share of my uncle’s property.”