Doctor Luttrell's First Patient

acquainted with new and cl

ia, she trod on air. As she sat at her needlework later on, waiting until Marcus retur

adge to be sententious, and say that one swallow does not make a spring;

next door to Galvaston House was to let, it had a garden and a small conservatory, and Marcus had once remark

ch enough to take Kempton

in a hearty laugh, when he heard where

s had not gone further than a new greatcoat this winter. I am afraid my old one is getting a li

nd look so beautiful before they burst. One is gone, but another takes its place, just as rainbow-tinted, and gorgeous. T

us sit in the sun a little and float our fairy balls. What if they are dreams and never come to anyth

Livy," he thought, "why should she not build her air castles if they make her happy, an

k Villas to fetch his wife home, he had

as the nearest doctor, and that perhaps their own medical man was engaged-in an imminent case like that it is impossible to wait-but no, it was nothing of the kind. Mrs.

nd this decided Mrs. Stanwell to send for me. As I was able to do the child good, they are ridiculously grateful. I am likely to have another patient there; Mrs. Stanwell has a

, you must take Olive away, she has been wearying the past half-hour to get

ve myself Marcus will get on; he is really clever, and never spares himself, but I doub

re long Mr. Gaythorne became an important factor in her

on House unless she were specially invited; but every t

a biannual call at the Vicarage, with or without tea, according to Mrs.

hen he began to show her his curiosities and rare prints. He had so much to tell her about the birds and butterflies in the museum as he called the inne

hand," she said once. "I try and repeat all you tell me, but, of course, I forget half

inated, so utterly engrossed, that the old man, much flattered, had cordially invited him into the museum. Marcus, who had still much ti

her. Olivia was always invited pointedly when Marcus's visit had been paid, and now and then he would ask Dr. Luttrell to have a ch

your husband. I am a selfish old misanthrope, I am afraid;" but Olivia, alarmed

to share my pleasure," she said so sw

d derived from his doctor's treatment. The bare civility with which he had at first tolerated Marcus soon changed into greater cordiality. Dr. Luttrell's i

eyes brightened under their rugged brows, and his voice insen

gs of which he never speaks. He has not once mentioned his son. I should not have known he had one, only I

y son,' but his voice was so constrained that I did not ventur

ably he is at Portland at the present moment, undergoing his sentence. No wonder poor

need not trouble yourself to be ridiculous, Marcus. Why should

almost as silent on th

name mentioned, that it upset him so. 'I was a happy man as long as she lived,' he said, so sadly, 'but it was

s Marcus's irrelev

one be more generous. And yet he is not liberal by nature. That very day that he sent Mrs. Crampton to the Models with all those good things-jellies and beef-tea and chicken and actually two bottles of port wine-he was as angry as possible

e, and it was all through Eros getting between my feet. It is not the few pence I mind, for we have good

m well, because it is their interest to do so, but even Mrs. Crampton

rcus, patting his waistcoat pocket, for he

der in a ton of excellent coal, then he had gone home and tol

," he said, severely. "I am not going to put up with that rusty old serge

h Kempton Lodge from garret to basement, but wh

ew braid round it yesterday, and I would so much rather you got a new great

ned Dr. Luttrell, coolly. Then at the thought

ted Olivia's tall supple figure perfectly-he had a momentary debate with himself before he v

" exclaimed Olivia, who was

once in her life. Now I must go to the tailor's for that great-coat. There won't be much of Mr. G

, but she could not bear to damp his enjoyment. She

ut it by for a rainy day?" she said, anxiously. But

bout; it would never do for him to go to those good houses in a s

ng of the dress and jacket

at Galvaston House in that old serge dress. He is not really improvident, Livy. You have

attend the lodger at number seventeen. He is a music-teacher and very resp

dress with an easy conscience," and

tweed that Marcus made her blush by telling

odd penetrating glance whe

d softened. "That was her favourite colour," he said. "Olive was always a grey bir

turned Olivia, simply. "My husband ch

ttrell." And again Olivia blushed l

ngs. Olivia had not yet seen them, and she was full of outspoken

are very well done; he had great promise, poor fellow. If he had lived, he would have done good work.

lease let me look at them a little longer, Mr. Gaythorne, I want to tell Aunt Madge about them." And Olivia, who was al

rich colouring and a certain

hepherd in a ragged smock had taken refuge in the porch, his rough-looking dog at his feet. The bowed figure and knotted hands, and the peaceful look in the wrinkled f

es and weeds and a broken storm, and beyond them the message of peace,

to herself; "she would like that picture be

under the hedge in the cool shade lay a brown baby asleep. A dish tied up in a blue handk

e nook where the child lay; there were festoons of honeysuckle and dog-roses, and long sprays of traveller's joy. The stumpy grey terrier s

d though Mr. Gaythorne smiled at her enthusiasm, he would not spoil her enjo

out the coffee-Mr. Gaythorne n

mizzling rain; "the forecasts promise a change, however. I suppose I must no

ar mother died-it is my birthday too, that makes it doubly festive. I am so

ld high fes

is the one day in the year we always dine with Aunt Madge; she is such an invalid, you see, that very little tires her; but on Christmas Day, we first dine with her quietl

ave plenty of ghosts to visit me," and his face twi