Now, considering that the patience of her own coachman must be pretty nearly worn out, and believing that what she had said would inure to her own reputation, and probably to Mike’s benefit as well, and that its force might be impaired by any further discussion of the subject, Phoebe arose and took a dignified leave.

Molly stood some moments in reflection.

“Bedad,” she said aloud, “to-morrer I’ll clane thim lamp-chimbleys and swape the bidrooms.”

CHAPTER XXIV

THE DOCTOR’S MISSION

The letter which Phoebe brought was a long and cordial one, in which Dora begged that Miriam would come and make her a visit of a few days.  She said, moreover, that her brother was intending to call on Mr. Haverley and urge him to come to their house as frequently as he could during his sister’s visit.  Dora said that she would enjoy having Miriam with her so very, very much; and although the life at the dear old farm must be always charming, she believed that Miriam would like a little change, and she would do everything that she could to make the days pass pleasantly.

There could not have been a more cordial invitation, but its acceptance was considered soberly and without enthusiasm.

During the past fortnight, there had been no intercourse between the Bannister and Haverley families.  Dora, it is true, had written, but her letters had not been called for, and Ralph had not been to her house to inquire about the dog.  The reason for this was that, turning over the matter in his mind for a day or two, he thought it well to mention it to Miriam in a casual way, for he perceived that it would be very unwise for him to go to Dora’s house without informing his sister and giving her his reasons for the visit.  To his surprise, Miriam strenuously opposed his going to the Bannister house on any pretence until Mr. Bannister had called upon him, and showed so much earnest feeling on the subject that he relinquished his intention.  He could see for himself that it would not be the proper thing to do; and so he waited, with more impatience on rainy days than others, for Mr. Herbert Bannister to call upon him.

On nearly every morning of the two weeks, Dora asked her brother at breakfast time if he were going that day to call at Cobhurst; and every time she asked him, Herbert answered that he would go that day, if he possibly could; but on each evening he informed her that at the hour he had intended to start for Cobhurst a client or clients had come into the office, or a client or clients had been in the office and had remained there.  A very busy man was Mr. Bannister.

Miriam’s opinion on the subject had been varied.  She frequently felt in her lonely moments that it would be a joy to see Dora Bannister drive in at the gate.

“If only,” thought Miriam, with a sigh, “she would content herself to be a visitor to me, just as I would be to her, and not go about contriving things she thinks Ralph would like,—­as if it were necessary that any one should come here and do that!  As for going to her house, that would leave poor Ralph here all by himself, or else he would be there a good deal, and—­”