If
they only waited a little, Catherine would fare better."
"As a calculation? Thank you very much," said the Doctor.
"Wait till some intelligent man of forty comes along, and he will be
delighted with Catherine," Mrs. Almond continued.
"Mr. Townsend is not old enough, then; his motives may be pure."
"It is very possible that his motives are pure; I should be very
sorry to take the contrary for granted. Lavinia is sure of it, and,
as he is a very prepossessing youth, you might give him the benefit
of the doubt."
Dr. Sloper reflected a moment.
"What are his present means of subsistence?"
"I have no idea. He lives, as I say, with his sister."
"A widow, with five children? Do you mean he lives UPON her?"
Mrs. Almond got up, and with a certain impatience: "Had you not
better ask Mrs. Montgomery herself?" she inquired.
"Perhaps I may come to that," said the Doctor. "Did you say the
Second Avenue?" He made a note of the Second Avenue.
CHAPTER VII
He was, however, by no means so much in earnest as this might seem to
indicate; and, indeed, he was more than anything else amused with the
whole situation. He was not in the least in a state of tension or of
vigilance with regard to Catherine's prospects he was even on his
guard against the ridicule that might attach itself to the spectacle
of a house thrown into agitation by its daughter and heiress
receiving attentions unprecedented in its annals.
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