brother, at such a time as this) I should
think it would be better to take no notice of that set of imputations.
I trust we shall live them down."

"You gave me great comfort in a few words once," said Hope. "Do you
remember saying, `When the time for acting comes, see how she will act!'
You know her well, and you judge her rightly: and you will, perhaps, be
the less sorry to hear that the time seems coming when we may all have
to act--I scarcely see how--but against adversity."

"She will come out nobly then. I fear nothing for her but too much
prosperity."

"There is no fear of that, I assure you," said Hope, smiling somewhat
sadly.

"You find the effect of this woman's slanders?"

"My situation has, from one cause or more, totally changed since you
first knew me. It would break Hester's heart to hear what I am
subjected to in the discharge of my daily business. I tell her a trifle
now and then, to prepare her for what may happen; but she and you do not
know a tenth part, of what is inflicted upon me."

"And what may happen?"

"I cannot see the extent of it myself: but I am losing my practice every
day. No; not through any failure; not through any of the accidents
which will happen in all medical practice. There are reports of such
abroad, I believe; but nothing is commoner than those reports. The
truth is, no patient of mine has died, or failed to do well, for an
unusually long space of time. The discontent with me is from other
causes."

"From Mrs Rowland's tongue, I doubt not, more than from your politics."

"The ignorance of the people about us is the great evil. Without this,
neither Mrs Rowland, nor any one else, could persuade them that I rob
the churchyard, and vaccinate children to get patients, and draw good
teeth to sell again."

"Oh, monstrous!" said Margaret, who yet could not help laughing. "You
never draw teeth, do you?"

"Sometimes; but not when I can get people to go to the dentist at
Blickley. Mrs Grey used to boast to you of my popularity; but I never
liked it much. I had to be perpetually on the watch to avoid
confidences; and you see how fast the stream is at present running the
contrary way. I can hardly get on my horse now, without being insulted
at my own door."

"Must you submit to all this?"

"By no means. I have called two or three men to account, and shaken my
whip over one or two more--with excellent effect. If there were none
but bullies among my enemies,