CHAPTER XIII
It may be thought the Doctor was too positive, and Mrs. Almond
intimated as much. But, as he said, he had his impression; it seemed
to him sufficient, and he had no wish to modify it. He had passed
his life in estimating people (it was part of the medical trade), and
in nineteen cases out of twenty he was right.
"Perhaps Mr. Townsend is the twentieth case," Mrs. Almond suggested.
"Perhaps he is, though he doesn't look to me at all like a twentieth
case. But I will give him the benefit of the doubt, and, to make
sure, I will go and talk with Mrs. Montgomery. She will almost
certainly tell me I have done right; but it is just possible that she
will prove to me that I have made the greatest mistake of my life.
If she does, I will beg Mr. Townsend's pardon. You needn't invite
her to meet me, as you kindly proposed; I will write her a frank
letter, telling her how matters stand, and asking leave to come and
see her."
"I am afraid the frankness will be chiefly on your side. The poor
little woman will stand up for her brother, whatever he may be."
"Whatever he may be? I doubt that. People are not always so fond of
their brothers."
"Ah," said Mrs. Almond, "when it's a question of thirty thousand a
year coming into a family--"
"If she stands up for him on account of the money, she will be a
humbug. If she is a humbug I shall see it.
Pages:
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106