第5章

类别:其他 作者:Anthony Trollope字数:23889更新时间:18/12/21 14:45:11
Winterbones,notawhitoffended,againhidhiscupunderhiscoat-tailandvanished。 \'Sitdown,Thorne,sitdown,\'saidthecontractor,speakinginquiteadifferentmannerfromanythathehadyetassumed。\'Iknowyou\'reinahurry,butyoumustgivemehalfanhour。Imaybedeadbeforeyoucangivemeanother;whoknows?\' Thedoctorofcoursedeclaredthathehopedtohavemanyahalf-hour\'schatwithhimformanyayeartocome。 \'Well,that\'sasmaybe。Youmuststopnow,atanyrate。Youcanmakethecobpayforit,youknow。\' Thedoctortookachairandsatdown。Thusentreatedtostop,hehadhardlyanyalternativebuttodoso。 \'Itwasn\'tbecauseI\'millthatIsentforyou,orratherletherladyshipsendforyou。Lordblessyou,Thorne;doyouthinkIdon\'tknowwhatitisthatmakesmelikethis?WhenIseethatpoorwretchWinterbones,killinghimselfwithgin,doyouthinkIdon\'tknowwhat\'scomingtomyselfaswellashim? \'Whydoyoutakeitthen?Whydoyoudoit?Yourlifeisnotlikehis。Oh,Scatcherd!Scatcherd!\'andthedoctorpreparedtopouroutthefloodofhiseloquenceinbeseechingthissingularmantoabstainfromhiswell-knownpoison。 \'Isthatallyouknowofhumannature,doctor?Abstain。Canyouabstainfrombreathing,andlivelikeafishdoesunderwater?\' \'ButNaturehasnotorderedyoutodrink,Scatcherd。\' \'Habitissecondnature,man;andastrongernaturethanthefirst。AndwhyshouldInotdrink?WhatelsehastheworldgivenmeforallthatIhavedoneforit?WhatotherresourcehaveI?Whatothergratification?\' \'Oh,myGod!Haveyounotunboundedwealth?Canyounotdoanythingyouwish?beanythingyouchoose?\' \'No,\'andthesickmanshriekedwithanenergythatmadehimaudibleallthroughthehouse。\'IcandonothingthatIwouldchoosetodo;benothingthatIwouldwishtobe!WhatcanIdo?WhatcanIbe?WhatgratificationcanIhaveexceptthebrandybottle?IfIgoamonggentlemen,canItalktothem?Iftheyhaveanythingtosayaboutarailway,theywillaskmeaquestion:iftheyspeaktomebeyondthat,Imustbedumb。IfIgoamongmyworkmen,cantheytalktome?No;I amtheirmaster,andasternmaster。Theybobtheirheadsandshakeintheirshoeswhentheyseeme。Wherearemyfriends?Here!\'saidhe,andhedraggedabottlefromunderhisverypillow。\'Wherearemyamusements?Here!\'andhebrandishedthebottlealmostinthedoctor\'sface。\'Whereismyoneresource,myonegratification,myonlycomfortafterallmytoils。Here,doctor;here,here,here!\'and,sosaying,hereplacedhistreasurebeneathhispillow。 Therewassomethingsohorrifyinginthis,thatDrThorneshrankbackamazed,andwasforamomentunabletospeak。 \'But,Scatcherd,\'hesaidatlast;\'surelyyouwouldnotdieforsuchapassionasthat?\'\'Dieforit?Aye,wouldI。LiveforitwhileIcanlive;anddieforitwhenIcanlivenolonger。Dieforit!Whatisthatforamantodo?Whatisamantheworsefordying?WhatcanIbetheworsefordying?Amancandiebutonce,yousaidjustnow。I\'ddietentimesforthis。\' \'Youarespeakingnoweitherinmadness,orelseinfolly,tostartleme。\' \'Follyenough,perhaps,andmadnessenough,also。Suchalifeasminemakesamanafool,andmakeshimmadtoo。WhathaveaboutmethatI shouldbeafraidtodie?I\'mworththreehundredthousandpounds;andI\'dgiveitalltobeabletogotoworkto-morrowwithahodandmortar,andhaveafellowclaphishanduponmyshoulder,andsay: “Well,Roger,shallushavethat\'ereotherhalf-pintthismorning?” I\'lltellyouwhat,Thorne,whenamanhasmadethreehundredthousandpounds,there\'snothingleftforhimbuttodie。It\'sallhe\'sgoodforthen。Whenmoney\'sbeenmade,thenextthingistospendit。Nowthemanwhomakesithasnotthehearttodothat。\' Thedoctor,ofcourse,inhearingallthis,saidsomethingofatendencytocomfortandconsolethemindofhispatient。Notthatanythinghecouldsaywouldcomfortorconsoletheman;butthatitwasimpossibletositthereandhearsuchfearfultruths——forasregardedScatcherdtheyweretruths——withoutmakingsomeanswer。\' \'Thisisasgoodasaplay,isn\'t,doctor?\'saidthebaronet。\'Youdidn\'tknowhowIcouldcomeoutlikeoneofthoseactorfellows。Well,now,come;atlastI\'lltellyouwhyIhavesentforyou。BeforethatlastburstofmineImademywill。\' \'Youhadmadeawillbeforethat。\' \'Yes,Ihad。Thatwillisdestroyed。Iburntitwithmyownhand,sothatthereshouldbenomistakeaboutit。InthatwillIhadnamedtwoexecutors,youandJackson。IwasthenpartnerwithJacksonintheYorkandYeovilGrandCentral。IthoughtadealofJacksonthen。He\'snotworthashillingnow。\' \'Well,I\'mexactlyinthesamecategory。\' \'No,you\'renot。Jacksonisnothingwithoutmoney;butmoney\'llnevermakeyou。\' \'No,norIshan\'tmakemoney,\'saidthedoctor。 \'No,youneverwill。Nevertheless,there\'smyotherwill,there,underthatdeskthere;andI\'veputyouinassoleexecutor。\' \'Youmustalterthat,Scatcherd;youmustindeed;withthreehundredthousandpoundstobedisposedof,thetrustisfartoomuchforanyoneman:besidesyoumustnameayoungerman;youandIareofthesameage,andImaydiefirst。\' \'Now,doctor,nohumbug;let\'shavenohumbugfromyou。Rememberthis; ifyou\'renottrue,you\'renothing。\' \'Well,but,Scatcherd——\' \'Well,butdoctor,there\'sthewill,it\'salreadymade。Idon\'twanttoconsultyouaboutthat。Youarenamedasexecutor,andifyouhavethehearttorefusetoactwhenI\'mdead,why,ofcourse,youcandoso。\' Thedoctorwasnotlawyer,andhardlyknewwhetherhehadanymeansofextricatinghimselffromthispositioninwhichhisfriendwasdeterminedtoplacehim。 \'You\'llhavetoseethatwillcarriedout,Thorne。NowI\'lltellyouwhatIhavedone。\' \'You\'renotgoingtotellmehowyouhavedisposedofyourproperty?\' \'Notexactly;atleastnotallofit。OnehundredthousandI\'veinlegacies,including,youknow,whatLadyScatcherdwillhave。\' \'HaveyounotleftthehousetoLadyScatcherd?\' \'No;whatthedevilwouldshedowithahouselikethis?Shedoesn\'tknowhowtoliveinitnowshehasgotit。Ihaveprovidedforher;itmattersnothow。Thehouseandtheestate,andtheremainderofmymoneyIhavelefttoLouisPhilippe。\' \'What!twohundredthousandpounds?\'saidthedoctor。 \'Andwhyshouldn\'tIleavetwohundredthousandpoundstomyson,eventomyeldestsonifIhavemorethanone?DoesnotMrGreshamleaveallhispropertytohisheir?WhyshouldnotImakeaneldestsonaswellasLorddeCourcyortheDukeofOmnium?IsupposearailwaycontractoroughtnottobeallowedaneldestsonbyActofParliament! Won\'tmysonhaveatitletokeepup?Andthat\'smorethantheGreshamshaveamongthem。\' Thedoctorexplainedawaywhathesaidaswellashecould。Hecouldnotexplainthatwhathehadreallymeantwasthis,thatSirRogerScatcherd\'ssonwasnotamanfittobetrustedwiththeentirecontrolofanenormousfortune。 SirRogerScatcherdhadbutonechild;thatchildwhichhadbeenborninthedaysofhisearlytroubles,andhadbeendismissedfromhismother\'sbreastinorderthatthemother\'smilkmightnourishtheyoungheirofGreshamsbury。Theboyhadgrownup,buthadbecomestrongneitherinmindnorbody。Hisfatherhaddeterminedtomakeagentlemanofhim,andhadsenttoEtonandCambridge。Buteventhisreceipt,generallyasitisrecognized,willnotmakeagentleman。Itishard,indeed,todefinewhatreceiptwilldoso,thoughpeopledohaveintheirownmindssomecertainundefined,butyettolerablycorrectideasonthesubject。Bethatasitmay,twoyearsatEton,andthreetermsatCambridge,didnotmakeagentlemanofLouisPhilippeScatcherd。 Yes;hewaschristenedLouisPhilippe,aftertheKingoftheFrench。Ifonewishestolookoutintheworldforroyalnomenclature,tofindchildrenwhohavebeenchristenedafterkingsandqueens,ortheunclesandauntsofkingsandqueens,thesearchshouldbemadeinthefamiliesofdemocrats。Nonehavesoservileadeferencefortheverynail-paringsofroyalty;nonefeelsowonderinganaweattheexaltationofacrownedhead;nonearesoanxioustosecurethemselvessomeshredorfragmentthathasbeenconsecratedbytheroyaltouch。Itisthedistancewhichtheyfeeltoexistbetweenthemselves,andthethronewhichmakesthemcovetthecrumbsofmajesty,theoddsandendsandchancesplintersofroyalty。 TherewasnothingroyalaboutLouisPhilippeScatcherdbuthisname。Hehadnowcometoman\'sestate,andhisfather,findingtheCambridgereceipttobeinefficacious,hadsenthimabroadtotravelwithatutor。Thedoctorhadfromtimetotimeheardtidingsofthisyouth; heknewthathehadalreadyshownsymptomsofhisfather\'svices,butnosymptomsofhisfather\'stalents;heknewthathehadbegunlifebybeingdissipated,withoutbeinggenerous;andthatattheageoftwenty-onehehadalreadysufferedfromdeliriumtremens。 Itwasonthisaccountthathehadexpresseddisapprobation,ratherthansurprise,whenheheardthathisfatherintendedtobequeaththebulkofhislargefortunetotheuncontrolledwillofthisunfortunateboy。 \'Ihavetoiledformymoneyhard,andIhavearighttodoasIlikewithit。Whatothersatisfactioncanitgiveme?\' Thedoctorassuredhimthathedidnotatallmeantodisputethis。 \'LouisPhilippewilldowellenough,you\'llfind,\'continuedthebaronet,understandingwhatwaspassingwithinhiscompanion\'sbreast。 \'Letayoungfellowsowhiswildoatswhileheisyoung,andhe\'llbesteadyenoughwhenhegrowsold。\' \'Butwhatifheneverlivestogetthroughthesowing?\'thoughtthedoctortohimself。\'Whatifthewild-oatsoperationiscarriedoninsoviolentamannerastoleavenostrengthinthesoilfortheproductofamorevaluablecrop?\'Itwasofnousesayingthis,however,soheallowedScatcherdtocontinue。 \'IfI\'dhadafreeflingwhenIwasayoungster,Ishouldn\'thavebeensofondofthebrandybottlenow。Butanyway,mysonshallbemyheir。I\'vehadthegumptiontomakethemoney,butIhaven\'tthegumptiontospendit。Myson,however,shallbeabletoruffleitwiththebestofthem。I\'llgobailheshallholdhisheadhigherthaneveryoungGreshamwillbeabletoholdhis。Theyaremuchofthesameage,aswellIhavecausetoremember;——andsohasherladyshiphere。\' Nowthefactwas,thatSirRogerScatcherdfeltinhisheartnospecialloveforyoungGresham;butwithherladyshipitmightalmostbeaquestionwhethershedidnotlovetheyouthwhomshehadnursedalmostaswellasthatotheronewhowasherownproperoffspring。 \'Andwillyounotputanycheckonthoughtlessexpenditure?Ifyoulivetenortwentyyears,aswehopeyoumay,itwillbecomeunnecessary; butinmakingawill,amanshouldalwaysrememberhemaygooffsuddenly。\' \'Especiallyifhegoestobedwithabrandybottleunderhishead;eh,doctor?But,mind,that\'samedicalsecret,youknow;notawordofthatoutofthebedroom。\' DrThornecouldbutsigh。Whatcouldhesayonsuchasubjecttosuchamanasthis? \'Yes,Ihaveputacheckonhisexpenditure。Iwillnotlethisdailybreaddependonanyman;Ihavethereforelethimfivehundredayearathisowndisposal,fromthedayofmydeath。Lethimmakewhatducksanddrakesofthathecan。\' \'Fivehundredayeariscertainlynotmuch,\'saidthedoctor。 \'No;nordoIwanttokeephimtothat。Lethimhavewhateverhewantsifhesetsaboutspendingitproperly。Butthebulkoftheproperty——thisestateofBoxallHill,andtheGreshamsburymortgage,andthoseothermortgages——Ihavetiedupinthisway:theyshallbeallhisattwenty-five;anduptothatageitshallbeinyourpowertogivehimwhathewants。Ifheshalldiewithoutchildrenbeforeheshallbetwenty-fiveyearsofage,theyarealltogotoMary\'seldestchild。\' NowMarywasSirRoger\'ssister,themother,therefore,ofMissThorne,and,consequently,thewifeoftherespectableironmongerwhowenttoAmerica,andthemotherofafamilythere。 \'Mary\'seldestchild!\'saidthedoctor,feelingthattheperspirationhadnearlybrokenoutonhisforehead,andthathecouldhardlycontrolhisfeelings。\'Mary\'seldestchild!Scatcherd,youshouldbemoreparticularinyourdescription,oryouwillleaveyourbestlegacytothelawyers。\' \'Idon\'tknow,andneverheardthenameofoneofthem。\' \'Butdoyoumeanaboyoragirl?\' \'TheymaybeallgirlsforwhatIknow,orallboys;besides,Idon\'tcarewhichitis。Agirlwouldprobablydobestwithit。Onlyyou\'dhavetoseethatshemarriedsomedecentfellow;you\'dbeherguardian。\' \'Pooh,nonsense,\'saidthedoctor。\'Louiswillbefive-and-twentyinayearortwo。\' \'Inaboutfouryears。\' \'Andforallthat\'scomeandgoneyet,Scatcherd,youarenotgoingtoleaveusyourselfquitesosoonasallthat。\' \'NotifIcanhelpit;butthat\'sasmaybe。\' \'Thechancesaretentoonethatsuchaclauseinyourwillwillnevercometobear。\' \'Quiteso,quiteso。IfIdie,LouisPhilippewon\'t,butIthoughtitrighttoputinsomethingtopreventhissquanderingitallbeforehecomestohissenses。\' \'Oh!quiteright,quiteright。IthinkIwouldhavenamedalateragethantwenty-five。\' \'SowouldnotI。LouisPhilippewillbeallrightbythattime。That\'smylookout。Andnow,doctor,youknowmywill;andifIdieto-morrow,youwillknowwhatIwantyoutodoforme。\' \'Youhavemerelysaidtheeldestchild,Scatcherd?\' \'That\'sall;giveithere;andI\'llreadittoyou。\' \'No;no;nevermind。Theeldestchild!Youshouldbemoreparticular,Scatcherd;youshould,indeed。Considerwhatanenormousinterestmayhavetodependonthosewords。\' \'Why,whatthedevilcouldIsay?Idon\'tknowtheirnames;neverevenheardthem。Buttheeldestistheeldest,alltheworldover。PerhapsIoughttosaytheyoungest,seeingthatIamonlyarailwaycontractor。\' ScatcherdbegantothinkthatthedoctormightnowaswellgoawayandleavehimtothesocietyofWinterbonesandthebrandy;but,muchasourfriendhadbeforeexpressedhimselfinahurry,henowseemedinclinedtomoveveryleisurely。Hesattherebythebedside,restinghishandsonhiskneesandgazingunconsciouslyatthecounterpane。Atlasthegaveadeepsigh,andthenhesaid,\'Scatcherd,youmustbemoreparticularinthis。IfIamtohaveanythingtodowithit,youmust,indeed,bemoreexplicit。\' \'Why,howthedeucecanIbemoreexplicit?Isn\'thereldestlivingchildplainenough,whetherhebeJack,orshebeGill?\' \'Whatdidyourlawyersaytothis,Scatcherd?\' \'Lawyer!Youdon\'tsupposeIletmylawyerknowwhatIwasputting。 No;Igottheformandthepaper,andallthatfromhim,andIdiditinanother。It\'sallrightenough。ThoughWinterboneswroteit,hediditinsuchawayhedidnotknowwhathewaswriting。\' Thedoctorsatawhilelonger,stilllookingatthecounter-pane,andthengotuptodepart。\'I\'llseeyouagainsoon,\'saidhe;\'to-morrow,probably。\' \'To-morrow!\'saidSirRoger,notatallunderstandingwhyDrThorneshouldtalkofreturningsosoon。\'To-morrow!whyIain\'tsobadasthat,man,amI?Ifyoucomesooftenasthatyouwillruinme。\' \'Oh,notasamedicalman;notasthat;butaboutthiswill,Scatcherd。Imustthinkifover;Imust,indeed。\' \'YouneednotgiveyourselftheleasttroubleintheworldaboutmywilltillI\'mdead;nottheleast。Andwhoknows——maybe,Imaybesettlingyouraffairsyet;eh,doctor?lookingafteryourniecewhenyou\'redeadandgone,andgettingahusbandforher,eh?Ha!ha!ha!\' Andthen,withoutfurtherspeech,thedoctorwenthisway。 CHAPTERXI THEDOCTORDRINKSHISTEA Thedoctorgotonhiscobandwenthisway,returningdulytoGreshamsbury。But,intruth,ashewenthehardlyknewwhitherhewasgoing,orwhathewasdoing。SirRogerhadhintedthatthecobwouldbecompelledtomakeupforlosttimebyextraexertionontheroad; butthecobhadneverbeenpermittedtohavehisownwayastopacemoresatisfactorilythanonthepresentoccasion。Thedoctor,indeed,hardlyknewthathewasonhorseback,socompletelywasheenvelopedinthecloudofhisownthoughts。 Inthefirstplace,thatalternativewhichithadbecomehimtoputbeforethebaronetasoneunlikelytooccur——thatofthespeedydeathofbothfatherandson——wasonewhichhefeltinhisheartofheartsmightveryprobablycometopass。 \'Thechancesaretentoonethatsuchaclausewillneverbebroughttobear。\'Thishehadsaidpartlytohimself,soastoeasethethoughtswhichcamecrowdingonhisbrain;partly,also,inpityforthepatientandthefather。Butnowthathethoughtthematterover,hefeltthattherewerenosuchodds。Werenottheoddstheotherway?Wasitnotalmostprobablethatboththesemenmightbegatheredtotheirlongaccountwithinthenextfouryears?One,theelder,wasastrongman,indeed;onewhomightyetliveforyearstocomeifhecouldbutgivehimselffairplay。Butthen,hehimselfprotested,andprotestedwithatruthtoosurelygrounded,thatfairplaytohimselfwasbeyondhisownpowertogive。Theother,theyounger,hadeverythingagainsthim。Notonlywasheapoor,punycreature,withoutphysicalstrength,oneofwhoselifeafriendcouldneverfeelsureunderanycircumstances,buthealsowasalreadyaddictedtohisfather\'svices; healsowasalreadykillinghimselfwithalcohol。 Andthen,ifthesetwomendiddiewithintheprescribedperiod,ifthisclauseofSirRoger\'swillwerebroughttobear,itshouldbecomehis,DrThorne\'s,dutytoseethatclausecarriedout,howwouldhebeboundtoact?Thatwoman\'seldestchildwashisownniece,hisadoptedbairn,hisdarling,theprideofhisheart,thecynosureofhiseye,hischildalso,hisownMary。Ofallhisdutiesonthisearth,nexttothatonegreatdutytohisGodandconscience,washisdutytoher。 What,underthesecircumstances,didhisdutytoherrequireofhim? Butthen,thatonegreatduty,thatdutywhichshewouldbethefirsttoexpectfromhim;whatdidthatdemandofhim?HadScatcherdmadehiswillwithoutsayingwhatitsclauseswere,itseemedtoThornethatMarymusthavebeentheheiress,shouldthatclausebecomenecessarilyoperative。Whethersheweresoornotwouldatanyratebeforlawyerstodecide。Butnowthecasewasverydifferent。Thisrichmanhadconfidedinhim,andwoulditnotbeabreachofconfidence,anactofabsolutedishonesty——anactofdishonestybothtoScatcherdandtothatfar-distantAmericanfamily,tothatfather,who,informerdays,hadbehavedsonobly,andtothateldestchildofhis,woulditnotbegrossdishonestytothemallifheallowedthismantoleaveawillbywhichhispropertymightgotoapersonneverintendedtobehisheir? LongbeforehehadarrivedatGreshamsburyhismindonthispointhadbeenmadeup。Indeed,ithadbeenmadeupwhilesittingtherebyScatcherd\'sbedside。Ithadnotbeendifficulttomakeuphismindtosomuch;butthen,hiswayoutofthisdishonestywasnotsoeasyforhimtofind。Howshouldhesetthismatterrighttoastoinflictnoinjuryonhisniece,andnosorrowtohimself——ifthatindeedcouldbeavoided? Andthenotherthoughtscrowdedonhisbrain。Hehadalwaysprofessed——professedatanyratetohimselfandtoher——thatofallthevileobjectsofaman\'sambition,wealth,wealthmerelyforitsownsake,wasthevilest。They,intheirjointschoolofinherentphilosophy,hadprogressedtoideaswhichtheymightfinditnoteasytocarryout,shouldtheybecalledonbyeventstodoso。Andifthiswouldhavebeendifficulttoeitherwhenactingonbehalfofselfalone,howmuchmoredifficultwhenonemighthavetoactfortheother!Thisdifficultyhadnowcometotheuncle。Shouldhe,inthisemergency,takeuponhimselftoflingawaythegoldenchancewhichmightaccruetohisnieceifScatcherdshouldbeencouragedtomakeherpartlyhisheir? \'He\'dwanthertogoandlivethere——tolivewithhimandhiswife。 AllthemoneyintheBankofEnglandwouldnotpayherforsuchmisery,\' saidthedoctortohimself,asheslowlyrodeintoisownyard。 Ononepoint,andoneonly,hadhedefinitelymadeuphismind。OnthefollowingdayhewouldgooveragaintoBoxallHill,andwouldtellScatcherdthewholetruth。Comewhatmight,thetruthmustbebest。 Andso,withsomegleamofcomfort,hewentintothehouse,andfoundhisnieceinthedrawing-roomwithPatienceOriel。 \'MaryandIhavebeenquarrelling,\'saidPatience。\'Shesaysthedoctoristhegreatestmaninavillage;andIsaytheparsonisofcourse。\' \'Ionlysaythatthedoctoristhemostlookedafter,\'saidMary。 \'There\'sanotherhorridmessageforyoutogotoSilverbridge,uncle。 Whycan\'tthatDrCenturymanagehisownpeople?\' \'Shesays,\'continuedMissOriel,\'thatifaparsonwasawayforamonth,noonewouldmisshim;butthatadoctorissopreciousthathisveryminutesarecounted。\' \'Iamsureuncle\'sare。Theybegrudgehimhismeals。MrOrielnevergetscalledawaytoSilverbridge。\' \'No;weintheChurchmanageourparisharrangementsbetterthanyoudo。Wedon\'tletstrangepractitionersinamongourflocksbecausethesheepmaychancetofancythem。Oursheephavetoputupwithourspiritualdoseswhethertheylikethemornot。Inthatrespectwearemuchthebestoff。Iadviseyou,Mary,tomarryaclergyman,byallmeans。\' \'Iwillwhenyoumarryadoctor,\'saidshe。 \'Iamsurenothingonearthwouldgivemegreaterpleasure,\'saidMissOriel,gettingupandcurtseyingverylowtoDrThorne;\'butIamnotquitepreparedfortheagitationofanofferthismorning,soI\'llrunaway。\' Andsoshewent;andthedoctor,gettingtohisotherhorse,startedagainforSilverbridge,wearilyenough。\'She\'shappynowwheresheis,\'saidhetohimself,asherodealong。\'TheyalltreatherthereasanequalatGreshamsbury。WhatthoughshebenocousintotheThornesofUllathorne。Shehasfoundherplacethereamongthemall,andkeepsitonequaltermswiththebestofthem。ThereisMissOriel;herfamilyishigh;sheisrich,fashionable,abeauty,courtedbyeveryone;butyetshedoesnotlookdownonMary。Theyareequalfriendstogether。ButhowwoulditbeifsheweretakentoBoxallHill,evenasarecognizednieceoftherichmanthere?WouldPatienceOrielandBeatriceGreshamgothereafterher?Couldshebehappythereassheisinmyhousehere,poorthoughitbe?ItwouldkillhertopassamonthwithLadyScatcherdandputupwiththatman\'shumours,toseehismodeoflife,tobedependentonhim,tobelongtohim。\'Andthenthedoctor,hurryingontoSilverbridge,againmetDrCenturyattheoldlady\'sbedside,andhavingmadehisendeavourstostaveofftheinexorablecomingofthegrimvisitor,againreturnedtohisownnieceandhisowndrawing-room。 \'Youmustbedead,uncle,\'saidMary,asshepouredouthisteaforhim,andpreparedthecomfortsofthatmostcomfortablemeal-tea,dinner,andsupper,allinone。\'IwishSilverbridgewasfiftymilesoff。\' \'Thatwouldonlymakethejourneyworse;butIamnotdeadyet,and,whatismoretothepurpose,neitherismypatient。\'Andashespokehecontrivedtoswallowajorumofscaldingtea,containinginmeasuresomewhatnearapint。Mary,notawhitamazedatthisfeat,merelyrefilledthejorumwithoutanyobservation;andthedoctorwentonstirringthemixturewithhisspoon,evidentlyobliviousthatanyceremonyhadbeenperformedbyeitherofthemsincethefirstsupplyhadbeenadministeredtohim。 Whentheclatterofknivesandforkswasover,thedoctorturnedhimselftothehearthrug,andputtingonelegovertheother,hebegantonurseitashelookedwithcomplacencyathisthirdcupoftea,whichstooduntastedbesidehim。Thefragmentsofthesolidbanquethadbeenremoved,butnosacrilegioushandhadbeenlaidontheteapotandthecream-jug。 \'Mary,\'saidhe,\'supposeyouweretofindoutto-morrowmorningthat,bysomeaccident,youhadbecomeagreatheiress,wouldyoubeabletosuppressyourexultation?\' \'ThefirstthingI\'ddo,wouldbetopronounceapositiveedictthatyoushouldnevergotoSilverbridgeagain;atleastwithoutaday\'snotice。\' \'Well,andwhatnext?whatwouldyoudonext?\' \'Thenextthing——thenextthingwouldbetosendtoParisforaFrenchbonnetexactlyliketheonePatienceOrielhadon。Didyouseeit?\' \'WellIcan\'tsayIdid;bonnetsareinvisiblenow;besidesIneverremarkanybody\'sclothes,exceptyours。\' \'Oh!dolookatMissOriel\'sbonnetthenexttimeyouseeher。Icannotunderstandwhyitshouldbeso,butIamsureofthis——noEnglishfingersputtogethersuchabonnetasthat;andIamnearlysurethatnoFrenchfingerscoulddoitinEngland。\' \'Butyoudon\'tcaresomuchaboutbonnets,Mary!\'Thisthedoctorsaidasanassertion;buttherewas,nevertheless,somewhatofaquestioninvolvedinit。 \'Don\'tIthough?\'saidshe。\'Idocareverymuchaboutbonnets; especiallysinceIsawPatiencethismorning。Iaskedhowmuchitcost——guess。\' \'Oh!Idon\'tknow——apound?\' \'Apound,uncle!\' \'What!agreatdealmore?Tenpounds?\' \'Oh,uncle。\' \'What!morethantenpounds?ThenIdon\'tthinkevenPatienceOrieloughttogiveit。\' \'No,ofcourseshewouldnot;but,uncle,itreallycostahundredfrancs!\' \'Oh!ahundredfrancs;that\'sfourpounds,isn\'tit?Well,andhowmuchdidyourlastnewbonnetcost?\' \'Mine!oh,nothing——fiveandninepence,perhaps;Itrimmeditmyself。 IfIwereleftagreatfortune,I\'dsendtoParisto-morrow;no,I\'dgomyselftoParistobuyabonnet,andI\'dtakeyouwithmetochooseit。\' Thedoctorsatsilentforawhilemeditatingaboutthis,duringwhichheunconsciouslyabsorbedtheteabesidehim;andMaryagainreplenishedhiscup。 \'Come,Mary,\'hesaidatlast,\'I\'minagenerousmood;andasIamrathermorerichthanusual,we\'llsendtoParisforaFrenchbonnet。ThegoingforitmustwaitawhilelongerIamafraid。\' \'You\'rejoking。\' \'No,indeed。Ifyouknowthewaytosend——thatImustconfesswouldpuzzleme;butifyou\'llmanagethesending,I\'llmanagethepaying; andyoushallhaveaFrenchbonnet。\' \'Uncle!\'saidshe,lookingupathim。 \'Oh,I\'mnotjoking;Ioweyouapresent,andI\'llgiveyouthat。\' \'Andifyoudo,I\'lltellyouwhatI\'lldowithit。I\'llcutitintofragments,andburnthembeforeyourface。Why,uncle,whatdoyoutakemefor?You\'renotabitniceto-nighttomakesuchanofferasthattome;notabit,notabit。\'Andthenshecameoverfromherseatatthetea-trayandsatdownonafoot-stoolcloseathisknee。 \'BecauseI\'dhaveaFrenchbonnetifIhadalargefortune,isthatareasonwhyIshouldlikeonenow?ifyouweretopayfourpoundsforabonnetforme,itwouldscorchmyheadeverytimeIputiton。\' \'Idon\'tseethat:fourpoundswouldnotruinme。However,Idon\'tthinkyou\'dlookabitbetterifyouhadit;and,certainly,Ishouldnotliketoscorchtheselocks,\'andputtinghishanduponhershoulders,heplayedwithherhair。 \'Patiencehasapony-phaeton,andI\'dhaveoneifIwererich;andI\'dhaveallmybooksboundasshedoes;and,perhaps,I\'dgivefiftyguineasforadressing-case。\' \'Fiftyguineas!\' \'Patiencedidnottellme;butsoBeatricesays。Patienceshowedittomeonce,anditisadarling。IthinkI\'dhavethedressing-casebeforethebonnet。But,uncle——\' \'Well?\' \'Youdon\'tsupposeIwantsuchthings?\' \'Notimproperly。Iamsureyoudonot。\' \'Notproperly,orimproperly;notmuch,orlittle。Icovetmanythings;butnothingofthatsort。Youknow,orshouldknow,thatIdonot。WhydoyoutalkofbuyingaFrenchbonnetforme?\' DrThornedidnotanswerthisquestion,butwentonnursinghisleg。 \'Afterall,\'saidhe,\'moneyisafinething。\' \'Veryfine,whenitiswellcomeby,\'sheanswered;\'thatis,withoutdetrimenttotheheartandsoul。\' \'IshouldbeahappiermanifyouwereprovidedforasMissOriel。 Suppose,now,Icouldgiveyouuptoarichmanwhowouldbeabletoinsureyouagainstallwants?\' \'Insuremeagainstallwants!Oh,thatwouldbeaman。Thatwouldbesellingme,wouldn\'tit,uncle?Yes,sellingme;andthepriceyouwouldreceivewouldbefreedomfromfutureapprehensionsasregardsme。Itwouldbeacowardlysaleforyoutomake;andthen,astome——methevictim。No,uncle;youmustbearthemiseryofhavingtoprovideforme——bonnetsandall。Weareinthesameboat,andyoushan\'tturnmeoverboard。\' \'ButifIweretodie,whatwouldyoudothen?\' \'AndifIweretodie,whatwouldyoudo?Peoplemustbeboundtogether。Theymustdependoneachother。Ofcourse,misfortunesmaycome;butitiscowardlytobeafraidofthembeforehand。YouandI areboundtogether,uncle;andthoughyousaythesethingstoteaseme,Iknowyoudonotwishtogetridofme。\' \'Well,well;weshallwinthrough,doubtless;ifnotinoneway,theninanother。\' \'Winthrough!Ofcourseweshall;whodoubtsourwinning?but,uncle——\' \'But,Mary。\' \'Well?\' \'Youhaven\'tgotanothercupoftea,haveyou?\' \'Oh,uncle!youhavehadfive。\' \'No,mydear!notfive;onlyfour——onlyfour。Iassureyou;Ihavebeenveryparticulartocount。IhadonewhileIwas——\' \'Fiveuncle;indeedandindeed。\' \'Well,then,asIhatetheprejudicewhichattacheslucktoanoddnumber,I\'llhavethesixthtoshowthatIamnotsuperstitious。\' WhileMarywaspreparingthesixthjorum,therecameaknockatthedoor。ThoselatesummonseswerehatefultoMary\'sear,fortheywereusuallyforerunnersofamidnightridethroughthedarklanestosomefarmer\'shouse。Thedoctorhadbeeninthesaddleallday,and,asJanetbroughtthenoteintotheroom,Marystoodupasthoughtodefendherunclefromanyfurtherinvasiononhisrest。 \'Anotefromthehouse,miss,\'saidJanet:now\'thehouse\',inGreshamsburyparlance,alwaysmeantthesquire\'smansion。 \'Nooneillatthehouse,Ihope,\'saidthedoctor,takingthenotefromMary\'shand。\'Oh——ah——yes;it\'sfromthesquire——there\'snobodyill:waitaminute,Janet,andI\'llwritealine。Mary,lendmeyourdesk。\' Thesquire,anxiousasusualformoney,hadwrittentoaskwhatsuccessthedoctorhadhadinnegotiatingthenewloanwithSirRoger。Thatfact,however,was,thatinhisvisittoBoxallHill,thedoctorhadbeenaltogetherunabletobringonthecarpetthematterofthisloan。 Subjectshadcrowdedthemselvesintooquicklyduringthatinterview——thosetwointerviewsatSirRoger\'sbedside;andhehadbeenobligedtoleavewithoutevenalludingtothequestion。 \'Imustatanyrategobacknow,\'hesaidtohimself。Sohewrotetothesquire,sayingthathewastobeatBoxallHillagainonthefollowingday,andthathewouldcallatthehouseonhisreturn。 \'That\'sallsettled,atanyrate,\'saidhe。 \'What\'ssettled?\'saidMary。 \'Why,ImustgotoBoxallHillagainto-morrow。Imustgoearly,too,sowe\'dbetterbothbeofftobed。TellJanetImustbreakfastathalf-pastseven。\' \'Youcouldn\'ttakeme,couldyou?IshouldsoliketoseethatSirRoger。\' \'ToseeSirRoger!Why,he\'sillinbed。\' \'That\'sanobjection,certainly;butsomeday,whenhe\'swell,couldyounottakemeover?Ihavethegreatestdesiretoseeamanlikethat;amanwhobeganwithnothingandnowhasmorethanenoughtobuythewholeparishofGreshamsbury。\' \'Idon\'tthinkyou\'dlikehimatall。\' \'Whynot?IamsureIshould;IamsureIshouldlikehim,andLadyScatcherdtoo。I\'veheardyousaythatsheisanexcellentwoman。\' \'Yes,inherway;andhe,too,isgoodinhisway;buttheyareneitheroftheminyourway:theyareextremelyvulgar——\' \'Oh!Idon\'tmindthat;thatwouldmakethemmoreamusing;onedoesn\'tgotothosesortofpeopleforpolishedmanners。\' \'Idon\'tthinkyou\'dfindtheScatcherdspleasantacquaintancesatall,\'saidthedoctor,takinghisbed-candle,andkissinghisniece\'sforeheadashelefttheroom。 CHAPTERXII WHENGREEKMEETSGREEK,THENCOMESTHETUGOFWAR Thedoctor,thatisourdoctor,hadthoughtnothingmoreofthemessagewhichhadbeensenttothatotherdoctor,DrFillgrave;norintruthdidthebaronet。LadyScatcherdhadthoughtofit,butherhusbandduringtherestofthedaywasnotinahumourwhichallowedhertoremindhimthathewouldsoonhaveanewphysicianonhishands;sosheleftthedifficultytoarrangeitself,waitinginsomelittletrepidationtillDrFillgraveshouldshowhimself。 ItwaswellthatSirRogerwasnotdyingforwantofhisassistance,forwhenthemessagereachedBarchester,DrFillgravewassomefiveorsixmilesoutoftown,atPlumstead;andashedidnotgetbacktilllateintheevening,hefelthimselfnecessitatedtoputoffhisvisittoBoxallHilltillnextmorning。Hadhechancedtohavebeenmadeacquaintedwiththatlittleconversationaboutthepump,hewouldprobablyhavepostponeditevenyetawhilelonger。 Hewas,however,bynomeanssorrytobesummonedtothebedsideofSirRogerScatcherd。ItwaswellknownatBarchester,andverywellknowntoDrFillgrave,thatSirRogerandDrThornewereoldfriends。Itwasverywellknowntohimalso,thatSirRoger,inallhisbodilyailments,hadhithertobeencontentedtoentrusthissafetytotheskillofhisoldfriend。SirRogerwasinhiswayagreatman,andmuchtalkedofinBarchester,andrumourhadalreadyreachedtheearsoftheBarchesterGalen,thatthegreatrailwaycontractorwasill。 When,therefore,hereceivedaperemptorysummonstogoovertoBoxallHill,hecouldnotbutthinkthatsomepurelighthadbrokeninuponSirRoger\'sdarkness,andtaughthimatlastwheretolookfortruemedicalaccomplishment。 Andthen,also,SirRogerwastherichestmaninthecounty,andtocountypractitionersanewpatientwithlargemeansisagodsend;howmuchgreateragodsendwhennotonlyacquired,buttakenalsofromsomerivalpractitioner,needhardlybeexplained。 DrFillgrave,therefore,wassomewhatelatedwhen,afteranearlybreakfast,hesteppedintothepost-chaisewhichwastocarryhimtoBoxallHill。DrFillgrave\'sprofessionaladvancementhadbeensufficienttojustifytheestablishmentofabrougham,inwhichhepaidhisordinaryvisitsroundBarchester;butthiswasaspecialoccasion,requiringspecialspeed,andabouttoproducenodoubtaspecialguerdon,andthereforeapairofpost-horseswereputintorequest。 Itwashardlyyetninewhenthepost-boysomewhatloudlyrangthebellatSirRoger\'sdoor;andthenDrFillgrave,forthefirsttime,foundhimselfinthenewgrandhallofBoxallHillhouse。 \'I\'lltellmylady,\'saidtheservant,showinghimintothegranddining-room;andthereforsomefifteenminutesortwentyminutesDrFillgravewalkedupanddownthelengthoftheTurkeycarpetallalone。 DrFillgravewasnotatallman,andwasperhapsrathermoreinclinedtocorpulencethanbecamehisheight。Inhisstocking-feet,accordingtotheusuallyreceivedstyleofmeasurement,hewasfivefeetfive; andhehadalittleroundabdominalprotuberance,whichaninchandahalfaddedtotheheelsofhisbootshardlyenabledhimtocarryoffaswellashehimselfwouldhavewished。Ofthishewasapparentlyconscious,anditgavetohimanairofnotbeingentirelyathisease。Therewas,however,apersonaldignityinhisdemeanour,aproprietyinhisgait,andanairofauthorityinhisgestureswhichshouldprohibitonefromstigmatizingthoseeffortsataltitudeasafailure。Nodoubthedidachievemuch;but,nevertheless,theeffortwouldoccasionallybetrayitself,andthestoryofthefrogandtheoxwouldirresistiblyforceitselfintoone\'smindatthosemomentswhenitmostbehovedDrFillgravetobemagnificent。 Butifthebulgyroundnessofhispersonandtheshortnessofhislegsinanywaydetractedfromhispersonalimportance,thesetriflingdefectswere,hewaswellaware,morethanatonedforbythepeculiardignityofhiscountenance。Ifhislegswereshort,hisfacewasnot; iftherewasanyunduepreponderancebelowthewaistcoat,allwasinduesymmetryabovethenecktie。Hishairwasgrey,notgrizzled,norwhite,butproperlygrey;andstoodupstraightfromhistemplesoneachside,withanunbendingdeterminationofpurpose。Hiswhiskers,whichwereofanadmirableshape,comingdownandturninggracefullyattheangleofhisjaw,weregreyalso,butsomewhatdarkerthanhishair。HisenemiesinBarchesterdeclaredthattheirperfectshadewasproducedbyaleadencomb。Hiseyeswerenotbrilliant,butwereveryeffective,andwellundercommand。Hewasrathershort-sighted,andapairofeye-glasseswasalwaysonhisnose,orinhishand。Hisnosewaslong,andwellpronounced,andhischin,also,wassufficientlyprominent;butthegreatfeatureofhisfacewashismouth。Theamountofsecretmedicalknowledgeofwhichhecouldgiveassurancebythepressureofthoselipswastrulywonderful。Byhislips,also,hecouldbemostexquisitelycourteous,ormoststernlyforbidding。Andnotonlycouldhebeeithertheoneortheother;buthecouldathiswillassumeanyshadeofdifferencebetweenthetwo,andproduceanymixtureofsentiment。 WhenDrFillgravewasfirstshownintoSirRoger\'sdining-room,hewalkedupanddowntheroomforawhilewitheasy,jauntystep,withhishandsjoinedtogetherbehindhisback,calculatingthepriceofthefurniture,andcountingtheheadswhichmightbeadequatelyentertainedinaroomofsuchnobleproportions;butinsevenoreightminutesanairofimpatiencemighthavebeenseentosuffusehisface。Whycouldhenotbeshownintothesickman\'sroom?Whatnecessitycouldtherebeforkeepinghimthere,asthoughheweresomeapothecarywithaboxofleechesinhispocket?Hethenrangthebell,perhapsalittleviolently。\'DoesSirRogerknowthatIamhere?\'hesaidtotheservant。\'I\'lltellmylady,\'saidtheman,againvanishing。 Forfiveminutesmorehewalkedupanddown,calculatingnolongerthevalueofthefurniture,butratherthatofhisownimportance。Hewasnotwonttobekeptwaitinginthisway;andthoughSirRogerScatcherdwasatpresentagreatandrichman,DrFillgravehadrememberedhimaverysmallandaverypoorman。HenowbegantothinkofSirRogerasthestone-mason,andtochafesomewhatmoreviolentlyatbeingsokeptbysuchaman。 Whenoneisimpatient,fiveminutesisasthedurationofalltime,andaquarterofanhouriseternity。AttheendoftwentyminutesthestepofDrFillgraveupanddowntheroomhadbecomeveryquick,andhehadjustmadeuphismindthathewouldnotstaytherealldaytotheseriousdetriment,perhapsfatalinjury,ofhisotherexpectantpatients。Hishandwasagainonthebell,andwasabouttobeusedwithvigour,whenthedooropenedandLadyScatcherdentered。 \'Oh,laws!\'Suchhadbeenherfirstexclamationonhearingthatthedoctorwasinthedining-room。Shewasstandingatthetimewithherhousekeeperinasmallroominwhichshekeptherlinenandjam,andinwhich,incompanywiththesamehousekeeper,shespentthehappiestmomentsofherlife。 \'Ohlaws!now,Hannah,whatshallwedo?\' \'Send\'unupatoncetomaster,mylady!letJohntake\'unup。\' \'There\'llbesucharowinthehouse,Hannah;Iknowtherewill。\' \'Butsurelydidn\'thesendfor\'un?Letthemasterhavetherowhimself,then;that\'swhatI\'ddo,mylady,\'addedHannah,seeingthatherladyshipstillstoodtremblingindoubt,bitingherthumb-nail。 \'Youcouldn\'tgouptothemasteryourself,couldnow,Hannah?\'saidLadyScatcherdinhermostpersuasivetone。 \'Whyno,\'saidHannah,afteralittledeliberation;\'no,I\'mafeardI couldn\'t。\' \'ThenImustjustfaceitmyself。\'Andupwentthewifetotellherlordthatthephysicianforwhomhehadsenthadcometoattendhisbidding。 Intheinterviewwhichthentookplacethebaronethadnotindeedbeenviolent,buthehadbeenverydetermined。Nothingonearth,hesaid,shouldinducehimtoseeDrFillgraveandoffendhisdearoldfriendDrThorne。 \'ButRoger,\'saidherladyship,halfcrying,orratherpretendingtocryinvexation,\'whatshallIdowiththeman?HowshallIgethimoutofthehouse?\' \'Puthimunderthepump,\'saidthebaronet;andhelaughedhispeculiarlowgutturallaugh,whichtoldsoplainlyofthehavocwhichbrandyhadmadeinhisthroat。 \'That\'snonsense,Roger;youknowIcan\'tputhimunderthepump。Nowyouareill,andyou\'dbetterseehimjustforfiveminutes。I\'llmakeitrightwithDrThorne。\' \'I\'llbed——ifIdo,mylady。\'AllthepeopleaboutBoxallHillcalledpoorLadyScatcherd\'mylady\'asiftherewassomeexcellentjokeinit;and,so,indeed,therewas。 \'Youknowyouneedn\'tmindnothinghesays,noryettakenothinghesends:andI\'lltellhimnottocomenomore。Nowdo\'eeseehim,Roger。\' ButtherewasnotcoaxingRogerovernow,indeedever:hewasawilful,headstrong,masterfulman;atyrantalwaysthoughneveracruelone; andaccustomedtorulehiswifeandhouseholdasdespoticallyashedidhisgangsofworkmen。Suchmenitisnoteasytocoaxover。 \'YougodownandtellhimIdon\'twanthim,andwon\'tseehim,andthat\'sanendofit。Ifhechosetoearnhismoney,whydidn\'thecomeyesterdaywhenhewassentfor?I\'mwellnow,anddon\'twanthim;andwhat\'smore,Iwon\'thavehim。Winterbones,lockthedoor。\' SoWinterbones,whoduringthisinterviewhadbeenatworkathislittletable,gotuptolockthedoor,andLadyScatcherdhadnoalternativebuttopassthroughitbeforethelastedictwasobeyed。 LadyScatcherd,withslowstep,wentdownstairsandagainsoughtcounselwithHannah,andthetwo,puttingtheirheadstogether,agreedthattheonlycureforthepresentevilwastofoundinagoodfee。SoLadyScatcherd,withafive-poundnoteinherhand,andtremblingineverylimb,wentforthtoencountertheaugustpresenceofDrFillgrave。 Asthedooropened,DrFillgravedroppedthebell-ropewhichwasinhishand,andbowedlowtothelady。Thosewhoknewthedoctorwell,wouldhaveknownfromhisbowthathewasnotwellpleased;itwasasmuchasthoughhesaid,\'LadyScatcherd,Iamyourmostobedientservant;atanyrateitappearsthatitisyourpleasuretotreatmeassuch。\' LadyScatcherddidnotunderstandallthis;butsheperceivedatoncethathewasangry。 \'IhopeSirRogerdoesnotfindhimselfworse,\'saidthedoctor。\'Themorningisgettingon;shallIstepupandseehim?\' \'Hem!ha!oh!Why,yousee,DrFillgrave,SirRogerfindshisselfvastlybetterthismorning,vastlyso。\' \'I\'mverygladtohearit;butasthemorningisgettingon,shallI stepuptoseeSirRoger?\' \'Why,DrFillgrave,sir,yousee,hefindshisselfsomuchhisselfthismorning,thathea\'mostthinksitwouldbeashametotroubleyou。\' \'Ashametotroubleme!\'ThiswasthesortofshamewhichDrFillgravedidnotatallcomprehend。\'Ashametotroubleme!WhyLadyScatcherd——\' LadyScatcherdsawthatshehadnothingforitbuttomakethewholematterintelligible。Moreover,seeingthatsheappreciatedmorethoroughlythesmallnessofDrFillgrave\'spersonmorethoroughlythanshedidthepeculiargreatnessofhisdemeanour,shebegantobeashadelessafraidofhimthanshehadthoughtsheshouldhavebeen。 \'Yes,DrFillgrave;yousee,whenamanlikehegetswell,hecan\'tabidetheideaofdoctors:now,yesterday,hewasallforsendingforyou;butto-dayhecomestohisself,anddon\'tseemtowantnodoctoratall。\' ThendidDrFillgraveseemtogrowoutofhisboots,sosuddenlydidhetakeuponhimselfsundrymodesofexpansiveattitude;——togrowoutofhisbootsandtoswellupwards,tillhisangryeyesalmostlookeddownonLadyScatcherd,andeacherecthairbristleduptowardstheheavens。 \'Thisisverysingular,verysingular,LadyScatcherd;verysingularindeed;verysingular;quiteunusual。IhavecomeherefromBarchester,atsomeconsiderableinconvenience,atsomeveryconsiderableinconvenience,Imaysay,tomyregularpatients;and——and——and——Idon\'tknowthatanythingsoverysingulareveroccurredtomebefore。\'AndthenDrFillgrave,withacompressionofhislipswhichalmostmadethepoorwomansinkintotheground,movedtowardsthedoor。 ThenLadyScatcherdbethoughtofhergreatpanacea。\'Itisn\'taboutthemoney,youknow,doctor,\'saidshe;\'ofcourseSirRogerdon\'texpectyoutocomeherewithpost-horsesfornothing。\'Inthis,bytheby,LadyScatcherddidnotstickquiteclosetoveracity,forSirRoger,hadheknownit,wouldbynomeanshaveassentedtoanypayment; andthenotewhichherladyshipheldinherhandwastakenfromherownprivatepurse。\'Itain\'taboutthemoney,doctor;\'andthenshetenderedthebank-note,whichshethoughtwouldimmediatelymakeallthingssmooth。 NowDrFillgravedearlylovedafive-poundfee。Whatphysicianissounnaturalasnottoloveit?Hedearlylovedafive-poundfee;buthelovedhisdignitybetter。Hewasangryalso;andlikeallangrymen,helovedhisgrievance。Hefeltthathehadbeenbadlytreated;butifhetookthemoneyhewouldthrowawayhisrighttoindulgeinanysuchfeeling。Atthatmomenthisoutrageddignityandcherishedangerwereworthmorethanafive-poundnote。Helookedatitwithwishfulbutstillavertedeyes,andthensternlyrefusedthetender。 \'No,madam,\'saidhe;\'no,no;\'andwithhisrighthandraisedwithhiseye-glassesinit,hemotionedawaythetemptingpaper。\'No;IshouldhavebeenhappytohavegivenSirRogerthebenefitofanymedicalskillImayhave,seeingthatIwasspeciallycalledin——\' \'But,doctor;iftheman\'swell,youknow——\' \'Oh,ofcourse;ifhe\'swell,anddoesnotchoosetoseeme,there\'sanendofit。Shouldhehaveanyrelapse,asmytimeisvaluable,hewillperhapsobligemebysendingelsewhere。Madam,goodmorning。Iwill,ifyouwillallowme,ringformycarriage——thatis,post-chaise。\' \'But,doctor,you\'lltakethemoney;youmusttakethemoney;indeedyou\'lltakethemoney,\'saidLadyScatcherd,whohadnowbecomereallyunhappyattheideaofherhusband\'sunpardonablewhimhadbroughtthismanwithpost-horsesallthewayfromBarchester,andthathewastobepaidnothingforhistimeorcosts。 \'No,madam,no。Icouldnotthinkofit。SirRoger,Ihavenodoubt,willknowbetteranothertime。Itisnotaquestionofmoney;notatall。\' \'Butitisaquestionofmoney,doctor;andyoureallyshall,youmust。\'AndpoorLadyScatcherd,inheranxietytoacquitherselfatanyrateofanypecuniarydebttothedoctor,cametopersonalclosequarterswithhim,withaviewofforcingthenoteintohishands。 \'Quiteimpossible,quiteimpossible,\'saidthedoctor,stillcherishinghisgrievance,andvaliantlyrejectingtherootofallevil。\'Ishallnotdoanythingofthekind,LadyScatcherd。\' \'Nowdoctor,do\'ee;toobligeme。\' \'Quiteoutofthequestion。\'Andso,withhishandsandhatbehindhisback,intokenofhisutterrefusaltoacceptanypecuniaryaccommodationofhisinjury,hemadehiswaybackwardstothedoor,herladyshipperseveringlypressinghiminfront。Soeagerhadbeentheattackonhim,thathehadnotwaitedtogivehisorderaboutthepost-chaise,butmadehiswayatoncetowardsthehall。 \'Now,do\'eetakeit,do\'ee,\'pressedLadyScatcherd。 \'Utterlyoutofthequestion,\'saidDrFillgrave,withgreatdeliberation,ashebackedhiswayintothehall。Ashedidso,ofcourseheturnedround,——andhefoundhimselfalmostinthearmsofDrThorne。 AsBurleymighthaveglaredatBothwellwhentheyrushedtogetherinthedreadencounteronthemountainside;asAchillesmayhaveglaredatHectorwhenatlasttheymet,eachresolvedtotestinfatalconflicttheprowessoftheother,sodidDrFillgraveglareathisfoefromGreshamsbury,when,onturningroundonhisexaltedheel,hefoundhisnoseonalevelwiththetopbuttonofDrThorne\'swaistcoat。 Andhere,ifitbenottootedious,letuspauseawhiletorecapitulateandadduptheundoubtedgrievancesoftheBarchesterpractitioner。Hehadmadenoefforttoingratiatehimselfintothesheepfoldofthatothershepherd-dog;itwasnotbyhisseekingthathewasnotatBoxallHill;muchashehatedDrThorne,fullsureashefeltofthatman\'sutterignorance,ofhisincapacitytoadministerproperlyevenablackdose,ofhismurderingpropensitiesandhislow,mean,unprofessionalstyleofpractice;nevertheless,hehaddonenothingtounderminehimwiththeseScatcherds。DrThornemighthavesenteverymother\'ssonatBoxallHilltohislongaccount,andDrFillgravewouldnothaveinterfered;——wouldnothaveinterferedunlessspeciallyanddulycalledupontodoso。 Buthehadbeenanddulycalledon。BeforesuchastepwastakensomewordsmustundoubtedlyhavepassedonthesubjectbetweenThorneandScatcherds。Thornemusthaveknownwhatwastobedone。Havingbeensocalled,DrFillgravehadcome——hadcomeallthewayinapost-chaise——hadbeenrefusedadmittancetothesickman\'sroom,onthepleathatthesickmanwasnolongersick;andjustashewasabouttoretirefee-less——forthewantofthefeewasnotthelessagrievancefromthefactofitshavingbeentenderedandrefused——feeless,dishonoured,andindudgeon,heencounteredthisotherdoctor——thisveryrivalwhomhehadbeesenttosupplant;heencounteredhimintheveryactofgoingtothesickman\'sroom。 WhatmadfanaticBurley,whatgod-succouredinsolentAchilles,everhadsuchcausetoswellwithwrathasatthatmomenthadDrFillgrave?HadIthepenofMoliere,Icouldfitlytellofsuchmedicalanger,butwithnootherpencanitbefitlytold。Hedidswell,andwhenthehugebulkofhiswrathwasaddedtohisnaturalproportions,heloomedgiganticbeforetheeyesofthesurroundingfollowersofSirRoger。 DrThornesteppedbackthreestepsandtookhishatfromhishead,having,inthepassagefromthehall-doortothedining-room,hithertoomittedtodoso。ItmustbeborneinmindthathehadtoconceptionwhateverthatSirRogerhaddeclinedtoseethephysicianforwhomhehadsent;nonewhateverthatthephysicianwasnotabouttoreturn,feeless,toBarchester。 DrThorneandDrFillgraveweredoubtlesswell-knownenemies。AlltheworldofBarchester,andallthatportionoftheworldofLondonwhichisconcernedwiththelancetandthescalping-knife,werewellawareofthis:theywerecontinuallywritingagainsteachother;continuallyspeakingagainsteachother;butyettheyhadneverhithertocometothatpositivepersonalcollisionwhichisheldtojustifyacutdirect。Theyveryrarelysaweachother;andwhentheydidmeet,itwasinsomecasualwayinthestreetsofBarchesterorelsewhere,andonsuchoccasionstheirhabithadbeentobowwithverycoldpropriety。 Onthepresentoccasion,DrThorneofcoursefeltthatDrFillgravehadthewhip-handofhim;and,withasortofmanlyfeelingonsuchapoint,heconceivedittobemostcompatiblewithhisowndignitytoshow,undersuchcircumstances,morethanhisusualcourtesy——something,perhaps,amountingalmosttocordiality。Hehadbeensupplanted,quoaddoctor,inthehouseofthisrich,eccentric,railwaybaronet,andhewouldshowthatheborenomaliceonthataccount。 Sohesmiledblandlyashetookoffhishat,andinacivilspeechheexpressedahopethatDrFillgravehadnotfoundhispatienttobeinanyveryunfavourablestate。 Herewasanaggravationtothealreadylaceratedfeelingsoftheinjuredman。Hehadbeenbroughtthithertobescoffedatandscornedat,thathemightbealaughing-stocktohisenemies,andfoodformirthtothevile-minded。Heswelledwithnobleangertillhewouldhaveburst,haditnotbeenfortheopportunepaddingofhisfrock-coat。 \'Sir,\'saidhe;\'sir:\'andhecouldhardlygethislipsopentogiveventtothetumultofhisheart。Perhapshewasnotwrong;foritmaybethathislipsweremoreeloquentthanwouldhavebeenhiswords。 \'What\'sthematter?\'saidDrThorne,openinghiseyeswide,andaddressingLadyScatcherdoverhisheadandacrossthehairsoftheirritatedmanbelowhim。\'Whatonearthisthematter?IsanythingwrongwithSirRoger?\' \'Oh,laws,doctor!\'saidherladyship。\'Oh,laws;I\'msureitain\'tmyfault。Here\'sDrFillgrave,inataking,andI\'mquitereadytopayhim——quite。Ifamangetspaid,whatmorecanhewant?\'Andsheagainheldoutthefive-poundnoteoverDrFillgrave\'shead。 Whatmore,indeed,LadyScatcherd,cananyofuswant,ifonlywecouldkeepourtempersandfeelingsalittleinabeyance?DrFillgrave,however,couldnotsokeephis;and,therefore,hedidwantsomethingmore,thoughatthepresentmomenthecouldhardlyhavesaidwhat。 LadyScatcherd\'scouragewassomewhatresuscitatedbythepresenceofherancienttrustyally;and,moreover,shebegantoconceivethatthelittlemanbeforeherwasunreasonablebeyondallconsciencewithhisanger,seeingthatthatforwhichhewasreadytoworkhadbeenofferedhimwithoutanyworkatall。 \'Madam,\'saidhe,againturningroundatLadyScatcherd,\'IwasneverbeforetreatedinsuchawayinanyhouseinBarchester——never——never。\' \'Goodheavens,DrFillgrave!\'saidheofGreshamsbury,\'whatisthematter?\' \'I\'llletyouknowwhatisthematter,sir,\'saidhe,turningroundagainasquicklyasbefore。\'I\'llletyouknowwhatisthematter。 I\'llpublishthis,sir,tothemedicalworld;\'andasheshriekedoutthewordsofthethreat,hestoodontiptoesandbrandishedhiseye-glassesupalmostintohisenemy\'sface。 \'Don\'tbeangrywithDrThorne,\'saidLadyScatcherd。\'Anyways,youneedn\'tbeangrywithhim。Ifyoumustbeangrywithanybody——\' \'Ishallbeangrywithhim,madam,\'ejaculatedDrFillgrave,makinganothersuddendemi-pirouette。\'Iamangrywithhim——or,rather,I despisehim;\'andcompletingthecircle,DrFillgraveagainbroughthimselfroundinfullfrontofhisfoe。 DrThorneraisedhiseyebrowsandlookedinquiringlyatLadyScatcherd; buttherewasaquietsarcasticmotionroundhismouthwhichbynomeanshadtheeffectofthrowingoilonthetroubledwaters。 \'I\'llpublishthewholeofthistransactiontothemedicalworld,DrThorne——thewholeofit;andifthathasnottheeffectofrescuingthepeopleofGreshamsburyoutofyourhands,then——then——then,Idon\'tknowwhatwill。Ismycarriage——thatis,thepost-chaisethere?\'andDrFillgrave,speakingveryloudly,turnedmajesticallytooneoftheservants。 \'WhathaveIdonetoyou,DrFillgrave,\'saidDrThorne,nowabsolutelylaughing,\'thatyoushoulddeterminedtotakethebreadoutofmymouth?Iamnotinterferingwithyourpatient。IhavecomeheresimplywithreferencetomoneymattersappertainingtoSirRoger。\' \'Moneymatters!Verywell——verywell;moneymatters。Thatisyourideaofmedicalpractice。Verywell——verywell。Ismypost-chaiseatthedoor?I\'llpublishitalltothemedicalworld——everyword——everywordofit,everywordofit。\' \'Publishwhat,youunreasonableman?\' \'Man!sir;whomdoyoucallaman?I\'llletyouknowwhetherI\'maman——post-chaisethere!\' \'Don\'t\'eecallhimnamesnow,doctor;don\'t\'eepraydon\'t\'ee,\'saidLadyScatcherd。 Bythistimetheyhadallgotsomewherenearerthehall-door;buttheScatcherdretainersweretoofondoftherowtoabsentthemselveswillinglyatDrFillgrave\'sbidding,anditdidnotappearthatanyonewentinsearchofthepost-chaise。 \'Man!sir;I\'llletyouknowwhatitistospeaktomeinthatstyle。I think,sir,youhardlyknowwhoIam。\' \'AllthatIknowofyouatpresentis,thatyouaremyfriendSirRoger\'sphysician,andIcannotconceivewhathasoccurredtomakeyousoangry。\'Andashespoke,DrThornelookedcarefullyathimtoseewhetherthatpump-disciplinehadintruthbeenapplied。TherewerenosignswhateverthatcoldwaterhadbeenthrownuponDrFillgrave。 \'Mypost-chaise——ismaypost-chaisethere?Themedicalworldshallknowall;youmaybesure,sir,themedicalworldshallknowitall;\'andthus,orderinghispost-chaiseandthreateningDrThornewiththemedicalworld,DrFillgravemadehiswaytothedoor。 Butthemomentheputonhishathereturned。\'No,madam,\'saidhe。 \'No;quiteoutofthequestion:suchanaffairisnottobearrangedbysuchmeans。I\'llpublishitalltothemedicalworld——post-chaisethere!\'andthen,usingallhisforce,heflungasfarashecouldintothehallalightbitofpaper。ItfellatDrThorne\'sfeet,who,raisingit,foundthatitwasafive-poundnote。 \'Iputitintohishatjustwhilehewasinhistantrum,\'saidLadyScatcherd。\'AndIthoughtthatperhapshewouldnotfindittillhegottoBarchester。WellIwishhe\'dbeenpaid,certainly,althoughSirRogerwouldn\'tseehim;\'andinthismannerDrThornegotsomeglimpseofunderstandingintothecauseofthegreatoffence。 \'IwonderwhetherSirRogerwillseeme,\'saidhe,laughing。