Whether it was that the earl restrained his appetite when at dinner under the doctor’s eyes, or whether the mid-day mutton chop which had been ordered for him had the desired effect, or whether the doctor’s conversation was more lively than that of the Lady Julia, we will not say; but the earl, on the evening in question, was triumphant.  As he sat in his easy-chair after dinner he hardly winked above once or twice; and when he had taken the large bowl of tea, which he usually swallowed in a semi-somnolent condition, he was quite lively.

“Ah, yes,” he said, jumping up and rubbing his eyes; “I think I do feel lighter.  I enjoy a snooze after dinner; I do indeed; I like it; but then, when one comes to go to bed, one does it in such a sneaking sort of way, as though one were in disgrace!  And my sister, she thinks it a crime—­literally a sin, to go to sleep in a chair.  Nobody ever caught her napping!  By-the-by, Dr Crofts, did you know that Mr Crosbie whom Bernard Dale brought down to Allington?  Lady Julia and he are staying at the same house now.”

“I met him once at Mrs Dale’s.”

“Going to marry one of the girls, isn’t he?”

Whereupon Dr Crofts explained that Mr Crosbie was engaged to Lilian Dale.

“Ah, yes; a nice girl I’m told.  You know all those Dales are connections of ours.  My sister Fanny married their uncle Orlando.  My brother-in-law doesn’t like travelling, and so I don’t see very much of him; but of course I’m interested about the family.”

“They’re very old friends of mine,” said Crafts.

“Yes, I dare say.  There are two girls, are there not?”

“Yes, two.”

“And Miss Lily is the youngest.  There’s nothing about the elder one getting married, is there?”

“I’ve not heard anything of it.”

“A very pretty girl she is, too.  I remember seeing her at her uncle’s last year.  I shouldn’t wonder if she were to marry her cousin Bernard.  He is to have the property, you know; and he’s my nephew.”

“I’m not quite sure that it’s a good thing for cousins to marry,” said Crofts.

“They do, you know, very often; and it suits some family arrangements.  I suppose Dale must provide for them, and that would take one off his hands without any trouble.”

Dr Crofts didn’t exactly see the matter in this light, but he was not anxious to argue it very closely with the earl.  “The younger one,” he said, “has provided for herself.”

“What; by getting a husband?  But I suppose Dale must give her something.  They’re not married yet, you know, and, from what I hear, that fellow may prove a slippery customer.  He’ll not marry her unless old Dale gives her something.  You’ll see if he does.  I’m told that he has got another string to his bow at Courcy Castle.”

Soon after this, Crofts took his horse and rode home, having promised the earl that he would dine with him again before long.