d run against her. He is very savage at what he
calls her vagaries. Did she get through the starvation all right?"

"Oh, yes, she was living in a French family, and like most of the middle
class they had laid in a fair stock of provisions when it became evident
the place was to be besieged, and though the supply of meat was stinted
I don't think there was any lack of other things."

"I liked Mary," the doctor said, warmly; "she was a straightforward,
sensible girl, till she got that craze about woman's rights in her mind;
in all other respects she was a very nice girl, and differed from the
rest of them as much as chalk from cheese."

"And what are the sisters like?"

"They are like their mother, vain and affected, only without her
cleverness. They feel bitterly their position at Fairclose, and make
matters worse by their querulous complainings. I never go into the house
unless I am sent for professionally, for their peevishness and bad
temper are intolerable. If things had gone differently, and they had
made good marriages, they might have turned out pleasant girls enough.
As it is they are as utterly disagreeable as any young women I ever came
across."

"Then Brander must have a very bad time of it."

"Yes, but from what I have seen when I have been there I don't thing
they show off before him much. I fancy Brander's temper has not
improved of late. Of course, in public, he is the same as ever, but I
think he lets himself loose at home, and I should say that the girls are
thoroughly afraid of him. I have noticed anyhow that when he is at home
when I call, they are on their best behavior, and there is not a word of
any unpleasantness or discontent from their lips. However, I suppose the
feeling against Brander will die out in time. I think it was unjust,
though I don't say it was not quite natural, but when the soreness wears
off a bit, people will begin to think they have been rather hard on
Brander. There's the surgery bell, now I must leave you to your own
devices."

At half-past eleven James Harford called, and Cuthbert at once went out
with him, and they walked towards Mr. Brander's office, which was but a
couple of hundred yards away.

"How do you do, Mr. Levison?" Cuthbert asked as he entered. "Is Mr.
Brander alone?"

"Yes, he is alone, Mr. Hartington. I am glad to see you again, sir."

With a nod Cuthbert walked to the door of the inner office, opened it,
and went in. Mr. Brander started, half rose