"
"You are very unkind, Doctor, and I never knew you unkind before."
"Unkind!" the Doctor repeated, with an air of surprise. "In what
way? I love this young fellow. I had cherished hopes for him that
he hardly perhaps ventured to cherish for himself. I quite agree
with you that what has passed has annihilated those hopes. You
despise a man who is a coward. I am not surprised at that. Bathurst
is the last man in the world who would force himself upon a woman
who despised him. I have done my best to save you from being obliged
to make a personal declaration of your sentiments. I repudiate
altogether the accusation as being unkind. I don't blame you in
the slightest. I think that your view is the one that a young woman
of spirit would naturally take. I acquiesce in it entirely. I will
go farther, I consider it a most fortunate occurrence for you both
that you found it out in time."
Isobel's cheeks had flushed and paled several times while he was
speaking; then she pressed her lips tightly together, and as he
finished she said, "I think, Doctor, it will be just as well not
to discuss the matter further."
"I am quite of your opinion," he said. "We will agree not to allude
to it again. Goodby."
And then Isobel had retired to her room and cried passionately,
while the Doctor had gone off chuckling to himself as if he were
perfectly satisfied with the state of affairs.
During the week that had since elapsed the Major had wondered and
grumbled several times at Bathurst's absence.
Pages:
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235