He suspected her of a mental reservation on the subject of
Midwinter--and of nothing more.
"Did you permit him to have his way?" she asked. "In your place,
I should have shown him the door."
The impenetrable composure of her tone warned the doctor that her
self-command was not to be further shaken that night. He resumed
the character of Mrs. Armadale's medical referee on the subject
of Mr. Armadale's mental health.
"If I had only had my own feelings to consult," he said, "I don't
disguise from you that I should (as you say) have shown Mr.
Midwinter the door. But on appealing to Mr. Armadale, I found he
was himself anxious not to be parted from his friend. Under those
circumstances, but one alternative was left--the alternative of
humoring him again. The responsibility of thwarting him--to say
nothing," added the doctor, drifting for a moment toward the
truth, "of my natural apprehension, with such a temper as his
friend's, of a scandal and disturbance in the house--was not to
be thought of for a moment. Mr. Midwinter accordingly remains
here for the night; and occupies (I ought to say, insists on
occupying) the next room to Mr.
Pages:
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321