as not in love with him. I may certainly say that
there was nothing in the world as to which she was so certain as she
was of this.

And now, in these days, Dr Crofts did not come over to Allington very
often. Had any of the family in the Small House been ill, he would
have been there of course. The squire himself employed the apothecary
in the village, or if higher aid was needed, would send for Dr
Gruffen. On the occasion of Mrs Dale's party, Crofts was there,
having been specially invited; but Mrs Dale's special invitations
to her friends were very few, and the doctor was well aware that he
must himself make occasion for going there if he desired to see the
inmates of the house. But he very rarely made such occasion, perhaps
feeling that he was more in his element at the workhouse and the
hospital.

Just at this time, however, he made one very great and unexpected
step towards success in his profession. He was greatly surprised one
morning by being summoned to the Manor House to attend upon Lord
De Guest. The family at the Manor had employed Dr Gruffen for the
last thirty years, and Crofts, when he received the earl's message,
could hardly believe the words. "The earl ain't very bad," said the
servant, "but he would be glad to see you if possible a little before
dinner."

"You're sure he wants to see me?" said Crofts.

"Oh, yes; I'm sure enough of that, sir."

"It wasn't Dr Gruffen?"

"No, sir; it wasn't Dr Gruffen. I believe his lordship's had about
enough of Dr Gruffen. The doctor took to chaffing his lordship one
day."

"Chaffed his lordship;--his hands and feet, and that sort of thing?"
suggested the doctor.

"Hands and feet!" said the man. "Lord bless you, sir, he poked his
fun at him, just as though he was nobody. I didn't hear, but Mrs
Connor says that my lord's back was up terribly high." And so Dr
Crofts got on his horse and rode up to Guestwick Manor.

The earl was alone, Lady Julia having already gone to Courcy Castle.
"How d'ye do, how d'ye do?" said the earl. "I'm not very ill, but
I want to get a little advice from you. It's quite a trifle, but
I thought it well to see somebody." Whereupon Dr Crofts of course
declared that he was happy to wait upon his lordship.

"I know all about you, you know," said the earl. "Your grandmother
Stoddard was a very old friend of my aunt's. You don't remember Lady
Jemima?"

"No," said Crofts. "I never had that honour."

"An excellent old woman, and knew