Boxall
Hill; but when he left, Mrs. Gresham had not been successful. Indeed,
he did not seem to enjoy his visit as was usual with him; and there
was very little of that pleasant friendly intercourse which for some
time past had been customary between him and Miss Dunstable. There
were no passages of arms between them; no abuse from the doctor
against the lady's London gaiety; no raillery from the lady as to the
doctor's country habits. They were very courteous to each other, and,
as Mrs. Gresham thought, too civil by half; nor, as far as she could
see, did they ever remain alone in each other's company for five
minutes at a time during the whole period of the doctor's visit.
What, thought Mrs. Gresham to herself,--what if she had set these two
friends at variance with each other, instead of binding them together
in the closest and most durable friendship! But still she had an idea
that, as she had begun to play this game, she must play it out. She
felt conscious that what she had done must do evil, unless she could
so carry it on as to make it result in good. Indeed, unless she could
so manage, she would have done a manifest injury to Miss Dunstable
in forcing her to declare her thoughts and feelings. She had already
spoken to her uncle in London, and though he had said nothing to show
that he approved of her plan, neither had he said anything to show
that he disapproved it. Therefore she had hoped through the whole of
those three days that he would make some sign,--at any rate to her;
that he would in some way declare what were his own thoughts on this
matter. But the morning of his departure came, and he had declared
nothing. "Uncle," she said, in the last five minutes of his sojourn
there, after he had already taken leave of Miss Dunstable and shaken
hands with Mrs. Gresham, "have you ever thought of what I said to you
up in London?"

"Yes, Mary; of course I have thought about it. Such an idea as that,
when put into a man's head, will make itself thought about."

"Well; and what next? Do talk to me about it. Do not be so hard and
unlike yourself."

"I have very little to say about it."

"I can tell you this for certain, you may if you like."

"Mary! Mary!"

"I would not say so if I were not sure that I should not lead you
into trouble."

"You are foolish in wishing this, my dear; foolish in trying to tempt
an old man into a folly."

"Not foolish if I know that it will make you both happier." He made
her n