, 1860-02-24
A DUH Mans ofFer Of Marriage.

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spite OF all that was going on, in defiance Of
looks, and compliments, and hints, the doctor
neither saw nor heard anything extraordinary,
and was quite surprised when his neighbOrs asked
Information from him upon the match Miss Part
ington was going to make II never occurred to
his unsuspieions soul that Sir James Langham's
sudden visit could be connected with matrmony.
"To be sure, Sir James dined there every day,
and 50 on, he told Miss Bates, buthesaw moth
ing, and thought nothng; ne gave the subject
any consiueratlon AZ all ne supposed lt might be
one Of Miss LOuisa's dirtations, but he had no
right 70 say even tnaI
tet sir James Langnams courtsnip had to et.
iect powerful event, and carry hre and sword
into tne ooctors neart Inc moment he was
completely assured MISS harrington was engaged
ana pr James on % to"n to compleIe arrange,
menus iOr nis narHage-tnat momens ehangeu
the aspect Of things to Mary and Dr. Drinkwater.
He had severe witches OF gout in every limb;
his knee grew stiii, bis elbows were all pulsaton,
and his right hand was consigned to its flannel
bag: Miss Bates heard the whole business from
Jenkins; his master, hc thought, would be q week
IN his room, tor the attack was sharper than usual
NJ IS Bates had remark for every one. "A
pretty beau to dangle alter Miss Vansittart,
when he was one day alive, and dead the
next" t
Dr. Drinkwater came 70 life again, however,
and was "daDgllng after Miss pahsittart" before
Miss Bates was aware Of it. He came in two
days to bis armchair close by Mary's workable,
and though he was In my eyes sad sober
dug after the discipline of the two previous days,
he was to Mary an object OF powerful interest,
and she sat well pleased to listen to that voice
which had not soothed her ear for many
h urS
l was glad to drive with Miss Partington to
Gloucester aud dissipate my dullness among the
hats and caps in Miss Lovel's show rooms.
During our drive, much was ranspiring at
home
DR.. Drinkwater sat In silence for some time,
pondering things IN bis inmost soul His long
meditation struck Mary as somewhat singular.
You are still poorly, fear, doctOrf"
Il have bad severe attack, Miss Mary, and
feel as if should be worse shortly"
"Oh, Il hope not"
"Any mental agitation is sure TO bring on
gout, and have been disturbed lately good
deal"
Mary looked at him in pity. "Nothlng hope,
Of sequence; you must not allow yourself to
be disturbed: nothing wrong at the Grange,
surely, with jenkins in the midst
Is not Miss Partington engaged to Sir James
Langhamt"
10 be sure surely, doctor, you found that
out the lirstday Sir James dined here-you who
are generally so quick at making discoveries"
Poor Mary she had made surprising discov-
cry herselfi she had found out the doctors qucG-
ness, when no mole could be more blind to what
was passing round him.
"lndeed ! did not suspect anything; but he
has managed il very quietly, as those things
should be managed. He is a very happy man."
"Any one must DO happy with dear Anne,
she is SO kind and good
He has no gout to plague her with" DR..
Drinkwater's cheeks became scarlet as the words
escaped him.
"Nay, Doctor, you don't suppose that had any
influence upon Anne You don't do her the IN
justice to think a little gOut would have altered