"It seems to me that you talk
like a great autocrat."
"I talk like my daughter's father."
"Not like your sister's brother!" cried Lavinia. "My dear Lavinia,"
said the Doctor, "I sometimes wonder whether I am your brother. We
are so extremely different. In spite of differences, however, we
can, at a pinch, understand each other; and that is the essential
thing just now. Walk straight with regard to Mr. Townsend; that's
all I ask. It is highly probable you have been corresponding with
him for the last three weeks--perhaps even seeing him. I don't ask
you--you needn't tell me." He had a moral conviction that she would
contrive to tell a fib about the matter, which it would disgust him
to listen to. "Whatever you have done, stop doing it. That's all I
wish."
"Don't you wish also by chance to murder our child?" Mrs. Penniman
inquired.
"On the contrary, I wish to make her live and be happy."
"You will kill her; she passed a dreadful night."
"She won't die of one dreadful night, nor of a dozen. Remember that
I am a distinguished physician."
Mrs. Penniman hesitated a moment. Then she risked her retort. "Your
being a distinguished physician has not prevented you from already
losing TWO MEMBERS of your family!"
She had risked it, but her brother gave her such a terribly incisive
look--a look so like a surgeon's lancet--that she was frightened at
her courage.
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