made, you must pardon an affectionate mother for the
compensation which she now offers you. It is far beneath the value of
your skill, your anxiety for my son's recovery, and the punctuality of
your attendance."

"What! fifty pounds, madam! I cannot accept it," said he, exhibiting it
in his hand as he spoke.

"O, but you must, my dear doctor; nor shall the liberality of the mother
rest here. Come, doctor, no remonstrance; put it in your pocket, and
now hear me. You say Miss Goodwin is past all hope. Would you have any
objection to write me a short note stating that fact?"

"How could I, madam?" replied the good-natured, easy man, who, of
course, could never dream of her design in asking him the question.
Still, it seemed singular and unusual, and quite out of the range of
his experience. This consideration startled him into reflection, and
something like a curiosity to ascertain why she, who, he felt aware, was
of late at bitter feud with Miss Goodwin and her family--the cause of
which was well known throughout the country--should wish to obtain such
a document from him.

"Pardon me, madam; pray, may I inquire for what purpose you ask me to
furnish such a document?"

"Why, the truth is, doctor, that there are secrets in all families, and,
although this is not, strictly speaking, a secret, yet it is a thing
that I should not wish to be mentioned out of doors."

"Madam, you cannot for a moment do me such injustice as to imagine
that I am capable of violating professional confidence. I consider
the confidence you now repose in me, in the capacity of your family
physician, as coming under that head."

"You will have no objection, then, to write the note I ask of you?"

"Certainly not, madam."

"But there is Dr. Lendrum, who joined you in consultation in my son's
case, as well I believe, as in Miss Goodwin's. Do you think you could
get him to write a note to me in accordance with yours? Speak to him,
and tell him that I don't think he has been sufficiently remunerated for
his trouble in the consultations you have had with him here."

"I shall do so, madam, and I think he will do himself the pleasure of
seeing you in the course of to-morrow."

Both doctors could, with a very good conscience, furnish Mrs. Lindsay
with the opinions which she required. She saw the other medical
gentleman on the following day, and, after handing him a handsome
douceur, he felt no hesitation in corroborating the opinion of his
broth