“I understand that promise had been revoked.”

“She had no right to revoke it after leading me on—­”

“Leading you on!” sternly interrupted Phillip Stanley.  “Willard, don’t add to your other sins by laying that at the girl’s door, when I’ve known of your boasts that before the year was out you ’would have a wife and the handling of a cool three hundred thousand dollars.’”

“Who told you that?” demanded the young man, with a guilty flush and a shame-faced air.

“It does not matter who told me; I have it on good authority.”

“But, Stanley, I am fond of her.  I really am.”

“Suppose Alfred Bent was fond of your sister, Minnie, in the same way, would you like to have him marry her?”

The fellow shrank as under a lash and his eyes blazed.

“By thunder—­no!” he vehemently returned.

“But Alfred Bent has been your inseparable crony during the last two years that you have wasted, and there is very little to choose between you.  So ask yourself if you are fit to marry a girl like Miss Minot; what right you have to ruin her life and squander her money.”

“I say, doc, you are piling it on thick,” Willard here interposed, in an injured tone.

“Yes, I know it sounds harsh, Ned,” said the physician, bending a grave though kindly look on him, “but, in my profession, you know we sometimes have to probe and adopt severe measures before a cure can be effected.  You also know, from past experience, that kindness was the only motive that prompted me in what I have done and still prompts me in what I am doing; so, now having come to an enforced pause in your career, I want you to improve it by doing some serious thinking.  You are a fellow of more than ordinary natural ability, Ned, and have it in your power to gain an enviable position in the world if you would turn your talents in the right direction.”

“You flatter me,” was the sarcastic interruption.

“I have been telling you some very plain truths, and it is only fair to give credit also where it is due,” said his companion, in a friendly tone.  “I am sure that underneath your seeming recklessness you have not always felt comfortable or satisfied with yourself.  You are the only son of a fine father, who has given you every advantage.  Your mother is one of the ’salt of the earth’; but her hair has been growing very white during the last two years, and Minnie—­well, my heart has often ached for her as I have noted the sad drooping of her eyes and the grieved quiver of her lips when she has spoken to me of you.”

“Stanley, have you any brandy in the house?” suddenly demanded Willard, trying to speak in his ordinary tone; but his companion saw that he was white to his lips, and concluded that he had “probed” far enough for the present.

“You are not to have stimulants while you are under treatment,” was the quiet but decisive reply.

“But, doc, I can’t stand it.  I really can’t.  Look!” and he held up a hand that shook like a leaf.