an!' he remarked, with the
most exasperating good humor. 'The moment she sees her object, she
dashes at it headlong the nearest way. Oh, the sex! the sex!'

"'Never mind the sex!' I broke out, impatiently. 'I want a serious
answer--Yes or No?'

"The doctor rose, and waved his hand with great gravity and dignity all
round the room. 'You see this vast establishment,' he began; 'you
can possibly estimate to some extent the immense stake I have in its
prosperity and success. Your excellent natural sense will tell you that
the Principal of this Sanitarium must be a man of the most unblemished
character--'

"'Why waste so many words,' I said, 'when one word will do? You mean
No!'

"The Principal of the Sanitarium suddenly relapsed into the character of
my confidential friend.

"'My dear lady,' he said, 'it isn't Yes, and it isn't No, at a moment's
notice. Give me till to-morrow afternoon. By that time I engage to
be ready to do one of two things--either to withdraw myself from this
business at once, or to go into it with you heart and soul. Do you agree
to that? Very good; we may drop the subject, then, till to-morrow. Where
can I call on you when I have decided what to do?'

"There was no objection to my trusting him with my address at the hotel.
I had taken care to present myself there as 'Mrs. Armadale'; and I had
given Midwinter an address at the neighboring post-office to write to
when he answered my letters. We settled the hour at which the doctor was
to call on me; and, that matter arranged, I rose to go, resisting all
offers of refreshment, and all proposals to show me over the house. His
smooth persistence in keeping up appearances after we had thoroughly
understood each other disgusted me. I got away from him as soon as I
could, and came back to my diary and my own room.

"We shall see how it ends to-morrow. My own idea is that my confidential
friend will say Yes."

"November 24th.--The doctor has said Yes, as I supposed; but on terms
which I never anticipated. The condition on which I have secured his
services amounts to nothing less than the payment to him, on my stepping
into the place of Armadale's widow, of half my first year's income--in
other words, six hundred pounds!

"I protested against this extortionate demand in every way I could
think of. All to no purpose. The doctor met me with the most engaging
frankness. Nothing, he said, but the accidental embarrassment of his
position at the present