ear town--the more countrified the
better. It isn't a very pleasant season for the country; but in spite of
that, the change will do him good."

Gilbert promised to effect this arrangement, as soon as the patient was
well enough to be moved. He would run down to Hampton or Kingston, he
told Mr. Mew, in a day or two, and look for suitable lodgings.

"Hampton or Kingston by all means," replied the surgeon cheerily. "Both
very pleasant places in their way, and as mild as any neighbourhood
within easy reach of town. Don't go too near the water, and be sure your
rooms are dry and airy--that's the main point. We might move him early
next week, I fancy; if we get him up for an hour or two every day in the
interval."

Gilbert had kept Mrs. Branston very well informed as to John Saltram's
progress, and that impetuous little woman had sent a ponderous retainer
of the footman species to the Temple daily, laden now with hothouse
grapes, and anon with dainty jellies, clear turtle-soups, or delicate
preparations of chicken, blancmanges and iced drinks; the conveyance
whereof was a sore grievance to the ponderous domestic, in spite of all
the aid to be derived from a liberal employment of cabs. Adela Branston
had sent these things in defiance of her outraged kinswoman, Mrs.
Pallinson, who was not slow to descant upon the impropriety of such a
proceeding.

"I wonder you can talk in such a way, when you know how friendless this
poor Mr. Saltram is, and how little trouble it costs me to do as much as
this for him. But I daresay the good Samaritan had some one at home who
objected to the waste of that twopence he paid for the poor traveller."

Mrs. Pallinson gave a little shriek of horror on hearing this allusion,
and protested against so profane a use of the gospel.

"But the gospel was meant to be our guide in common things, wasn't it,
Mrs. Pallinson? However, there's not the least use in your being angry;
for I mean to do what I can for Mr. Saltram, and there's no one in the
world could turn me from my intention."

"Indeed!" cried the elder lady, indignantly; "and when he recovers you
mean to marry him, I daresay. You will be weak enough to throw away your
fortune upon a profligate and a spendthrift, a man who is certain to make
any woman miserable."

And hereupon there arose what Sheridan calls "a very pretty quarrel"
between the two ladies, which went very near to end in Mrs. Pallinson's
total withdrawal from Cavendish-squar