“I wasn’t going to,” said Sarah, gently.

“John Crewys is the very man I would have chosen—­I did choose him,” said the doctor, looking at her almost fiercely.  It was an odd consolation to him to believe he had first led John Crewys to interest himself in Lady Mary.  He recognized his rival’s superior qualifications very fully and humbly.  “You know all about it, Miss Sarah, don’t tell me; so quick as you are to find out what doesn’t concern you.”

“I saw that—­Mr. John Crewys—­liked her,” said Sarah, in a low voice; “but, then, so does everybody.  I wasn’t sure—­I couldn’t believe that she—­”

“You haven’t watched as I have,” he groaned; “you haven’t seen the sparkle come back to her eye, and the colour to her cheek.  You haven’t watched her learning to laugh and sing and enjoy her innocent days as Nature bade; since she has dared to be herself.  It was love that taught her an that.”

“Love!” said Sarah.

Her soft, red lips parted; and her breath quickened with a sudden sensation of mingled interest, sympathy, and amusement.

“Ay, love,” said the doctor, half angrily.  He detected the deepening of Sarah’s dimples.  “And I am an old fool to talk to you like this.  You children think that love is reserved for boys and girls, like you and—­and Peter.”

“I don’t know what Peter has to do with it,” said Sarah, pouting.

“I heard Peter explaining to his tenants just now,” said the doctor, with a harsh laugh, “that he was going to settle down here for good and all—­with his mother; that nothing was to be changed from his father’s time.  Something in his words would have made me understand the look on his mother’s face, even if I hadn’t read it right—­already.  She will sacrifice her love for John Crewys to her love for her son; and by the time Peter finds out—­as in the course of nature he will find out—­that he can do without his mother, her chance of happiness will be gone for ever.”

Sarah looked a little queerly at the doctor.

“Then the sooner Peter finds out,” she said slowly, “that he can live without his mother, the better.  Doesn’t that seem strange?”

“Perhaps,” said the doctor, heavily.  “But life gives us so few opportunities of a great happiness as we grow older, little Sarah.  The possibilities that once seemed so boundless, lie in a circle which narrows round us, day by day.  Some day you’ll find that out too.”

There was a sudden outburst of cheering.

Sarah started forward.  “Dr. Blundell,” she said energetically, “you’ve told me all I wanted to know.  She sha’n’t be unhappy if I can help it.”

“You!” said the doctor, shrugging his shoulders rather rudely.  “I don’t see what you can do.”

Sarah reddened with lofty indignation.  “It would be very odd if you did,” she said spitefully; “you’re only a man, when all is said and done.  But if you’ll only promise not to interfere, I’ll manage it beautifully all by myself.”