e
medical charge of Mrs Enderby, and of the whole of my family: but, of
course, it is not probable that his expectations of practice among
your patients stop here; and the present unfortunate state of the
public mind of Deerbrook regarding yourself, makes it too probable
that his most sanguine expectations will be realised. I write this
with extreme pain; but I owe it to you not to disguise the truth,
however distasteful may be its nature.

"These being the circumstances of the case, it appears to me hopeless
to press the departure of Mr Walcot. And if he went away to-day, I
should fear that some one would arrive to-morrow to occupy his
position. Yet, my dear sir, justice must be done to you. After
protracted and anxious consideration, one mode of action has occurred
to me, by which atonement may be made to you, for what has passed.
Let me recommend it to your earnest and favourable consideration.

"Some other place of residence would, I should hope, yield you and
your family the consideration and comfort of which you have here been
most unjustly deprived. Elsewhere you might ensure the due reward of
that professional ability and humanity which we have shown ourselves
unworthy to appreciate. If you could reconcile yourself to removing,
with your family, I believe that the peace of our society would be
promoted, that unpleasant collisions of opinions and interests would
be avoided, and that that reparation would be made to you which I fear
would be impracticable here. All difficulty about the process of
removal might and should be obviated. To speak frankly, I should, in
that case, consider myself your debtor to such an amount as, by a
comparison of your losses and my means, should appear to us both to be
just. I believe I might venture to make myself answerable for so much
as would settle you in some more favourable locality, and enable you
to wait a moderate time for that appreciation of your professional
merits which would be certain to ensue.

"I need not add that, in case of your acceding to my proposition, all
idea of _obligation_ would be misplaced. I offer no more than I
consider actually your due. The circumstance of the father of a large
and rising family offering to become responsible to such an extent,
indicates that my sense of your claim upon me is very strong. I
should be glad to be relieved from it: and I therefore, once