Then the doctor did sit down, and they were all very cosy together
over the fire, talking about things which were not medical, or only
half medical in their appliance. By degrees the conversation came
round to Mrs Eames and to John Eames. Two or three days since, Crofts
had told Mrs Dale of that affair at the railway station, of which up
to that time she had heard nothing. Mrs Dale, when she was assured
that young Eames had given Crosbie a tremendous thrashing--the
tidings of the affair which had got themselves substantiated at
Guestwick so described the nature of the encounter--could not
withhold some meed of applause.
"Dear boy!" she said, almost involuntarily. "Dear boy! it came from
the honestness of his heart!" And then she gave special injunctions
to the doctor,--injunctions which were surely unnecessary,--that no
word of the matter should be whispered before Lily.
"I was at the manor, yesterday," said the doctor, "and the earl would
talk about nothing but Master Johnny. He says he's the finest fellow
going." Whereupon Mrs Dale touched him with her foot, fearing that
the conversation might be led away in the direction of Johnny's
prowess.
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