angle of unbuilt ground upon the other
corner houses where dwelt people unknown to society in Carlingford, and
still Dr Rider consented to call himself M.R.C.S., and cultivate the
patients who were afraid of a physician. Miss Wodehouse went in at the
invitation of Mary to see the little drawing-room which the master of
the house had provided for his wife. It had been only an unfurnished
room in Dr Rider's bachelor days, and looked out upon nothing better
than these same new streets--the vulgar suburb which Carlingford
disowned. Miss Wodehouse lingered at the window with a little sigh over
the perversity of circumstances. If Miss Marjoribanks had only been
Nettie, or Nettie Miss Marjoribanks! If not only love and happiness, but
the old doctor's practice and savings, could but have been brought to
heap up the measure of the young doctor's good-fortune! What a pity that
one cannot have everything! The friendly visitor said so with a real
sigh as she went down-stairs after her inspection. If the young people
had but been settling in Grange Lane, in good society, and with Dr
Marjoribanks's practice, this marriage would have been perfection
indeed!

But when the doctor brought Nettie home, and set her in that easy-chair
which her image had possessed so long, he saw few drawbacks at that moment
to the felicity of his lot. If there was one particular in which his sky
threatened clouds, it was not the want of Dr Marjoribanks's practice,
but the presence of that little interloper, whom the doctor in his
heart was apt to call by uncomplimentary names, and did not regard with
unmixed favour. But when Susan and her Australian were fairly gone, and
all fear of any invasion of the other imps--which Dr Rider inly dreaded
up to the last moment--was over, Freddy grew more and more tolerable.
Where Fred once lay and dozed, and filled the doctor's house with heavy
fumes and discreditable gossip, a burden on his brother's reluctant
hospitality, little Freddy now obliterated that dismal memory with
prayers and slumbers of childhood; and where the discontented doctor had
grumbled many a night and day over that bare habitation of his, which
was a house, and not a home, Nettie diffused herself till the familiar
happiness became so much a part of his belongings that the doctor
learned to grumble once more at the womanish accessories which he had
once missed so bitterly. And the little wayward heroine who, by dint
of hard labour and sacrifice, ha