So Dr Century came and toddled slowly into her ladyship’s room.  He did not say much; he left the talking to his learned brother, who certainly was able to do that part of the business.  But Dr Century, though he said very little, looked very grave, and by no means quieted Lady Arabella’s mind.  She, as she saw the two putting their heads together, already had misgivings that she had done wrong.  She knew that she could not be safe without Dr Thorne at her bedside, and she already felt that she had exercised a most injudicious courage in driving him away.

‘Well, doctor?’ said she, as soon as Dr Century had toddled downstairs to see the squire.

’Oh! we shall be all right, Lady Arabella; all right, very soon.  But we must be careful, very careful; I am glad I’ve had Dr Century here, very; but there’s nothing to alter; little or nothing.’

There was but few words spoken between Dr Century and the squire; but few as they were, they frightened Mr Gresham.  When Dr Fillgrave came down the grand stairs, a servant waited at the bottom to ask him also to go to the squire.  Now there never had been much cordiality between the squire and Dr Fillgrave, though Mr Gresham had consented to take a preventative pill from his hands, and the little man therefore swelled himself out somewhat more than ordinarily as he followed the servant.

‘Dr Fillgrave,’ said the squire, at once beginning the conversation, ‘Lady Arabella, is I fear, in danger?’

’Well, no; I hope not in danger, Mr Gresham.  I certainly believe I may be justified in expressing a hope that she is not in danger.  Her state is, no doubt, rather serious;—­rather serious—­as Dr Century has probably told you;’ and Dr Fillgrave made a bow to the old man, who sat quiet in one of the dining-room arm-chairs.

‘Well, doctor,’ said the squire, ’I have not any grounds on which to doubt your judgement.’

Dr Fillgrave bowed, but with the stiffest, slightest inclination which a head could possibly make.  He rather thought that Mr Gresham had no ground for doubting his judgement.

‘Nor do I.’

The doctor bowed, and a little, a very little less stiffly.

‘But, doctor, I think that something ought to be done.’

The doctor this time did his bowing merely with his eyes and mouth.  The former he closed for a moment, the latter he pressed; and then decorously rubbed his hands one over the other.

’I am afraid, Dr Fillgrave, that you and my friend Thorne are not the best friends in the world.’

‘No, Mr Gresham, no; I may go so far as to say we are not.’

‘Well, I am sorry for it—­’

’Perhaps, Mr Gresham, we need hardly discuss it; but there have been circumstances—­’

’I am not going to discuss anything, Dr Fillgrave; I say I am sorry for it, because I believe that prudence will imperatively require Lady Arabella to have Doctor Thorne back again.  Now, if you would not object to meet him—­’