--'What!'
rejoined I, affecting great surprise, 'has Gertrude left you?'--'She
has,' answered he. 'And dared,' continued I, 'to treat you with such
disrespect--to trifle so with your dignity?'--'Dr. Jeremy!' exclaimed
he, 'I don't wish to hear her mentioned; she has behaved as ungratefully
as she has unwisely.'--'Why, about the gratitude, Graham,' said I, 'I
believe you said it would only be an additional favour on your part if
you took her with you, and I think it is wisdom in her to make herself
independent at home. But I really am sorry for you and Emily; you will
miss her so much.'--'We can dispense with your sympathy, sir,' answered
he; 'for that which is no loss.'--'Ah! really,' I replied; 'now, I was
thinking Gertrude's society would be quite a loss.'--'_Mrs. Ellis_ goes
with us,' said he, with emphasis, that seemed to say her company
compensated for all deficiencies.--'Ah!' said I, 'charming woman, Mrs.
Ellis!' Graham looked annoyed, for he is aware that Mrs. Ellis is my
antipathy."

"Well, you ought to have known better, Dr. Jeremy," said his
kind-hearted wife, "than to have attacked a man so on his weak point: it
was only exciting his temper for nothing."

"I was taking up the cudgels for Gertrude, wife."

"And I don't believe Gertrude wants you to take up the cudgels for her.
I have no manner of doubts that she has the kindest of feelings towards
Mr. Graham, this blessed minute."

"I have, Mrs. Jeremy," said Gertrude; "he has been a most generous and
indulgent friend to me."

"Except when you wanted to have your own way," suggested the doctor.

"Which I seldom did when it was in opposition to his wishes. I always
considered it my duty to submit to him, until at last a higher duty
compelled me to do otherwise."

"And then, my dear," said Mrs. Jeremy, "I dare say it pained you to
displease him; and that is a right woman's feeling, and one that Dr.
Jeremy, in his own heart, can't but approve of, though one would think,
to hear him talk, that he considered it pretty in a young girl to take
satisfaction in browbeating an old gentleman. But don't let us talk any
more about it; he has had his say, and now it's my turn. I want to hear
how you are situated, Gerty, where you live, and how you like teaching."

Gertrude answered all these questions: and the doctor, who had heard
Mrs. Sullivan spoken of as a friend of True's and Gerty's, made many
inquiries as to her health. It was now snowing fast, and Gertrude'