第10章

Beatricedidnotquiteseeitall；butshesawenoughofittoknowthatMarywastobepitied；so，insteadofscoldingherfriendforbeingcross，shethrewherarmsroundherandkissedheraffectionately。

Butthedoctorallthistimesufferedmuchmorethanhisniecedid。Hecouldnotcomplainoutloudly；hecouldnotaverthathispetlambhadbeenilltreated；hecouldnotevenhavethepleasureofopenlyquarrellingwithLadyArabella；butnotthelessdidhefeelittobemostcruelthatMaryshouldhavetolivebeforetheworldasanoutcast，becauseithadpleasedFrankGreshamtofallinlovewithher。

ButhisbitternesswasnotchieflyagainstFrank。ThatFrankhadbeenveryfoolishhecouldnotbutacknowledge；butitwasakindoffollyforwhichthedoctorwasabletofindexcuse。ForLadyArabella\'scoldproprietyhecouldfindnoexcuse。

Withthesquirehehadspokennowordonthesubjectuptothisperiodofwhichwearenowwriting。WithherladyshiphehadneverspokenonitsincethatdaywhenshehadtoldhimthatMarywastocomenomoretoGreshamsbury。HenevernowdinedorspenthiseveningsatGreshamsbury，andseldomwastobeseenatthehouse，exceptwhencalledinprofessionally。Thesquire，indeed，hefrequentlymet；butheeitherdidsointhevillage，oroutonhorseback，orathisownhouse。

WhenthedoctorfirstheardthatSirRogerhadlosthisseat，andhadreturnedtoBoxallHill，heresolvedtogooverandseehim。Butthevisitwaspostponedfromdaytoday，asvisitsarepostponedwhichmaybemadeanyday，andhedidnotinfactgotillsummonedtheresomewhatperemptorily。AmessagewasbroughttohimoneeveningtosaythatSirRogerhadbeenstruckbyparalysis，andthatnotamomentwastobelost。

\'Italwayshappensatnight，\'saidMary，whohadmoresympathyforthelivingunclewhomshedidknow，thanfortheotherdyingunclewhomshedidnotknow。

\'Whatmatters？——there——justgivememyscarf。InallprobabilityImaynotbehometo-night——perhapsnottilllateto-morrow。Godblessyou，Mary！\'andawaythedoctorwentonhiscoldbleakridetoBoxallHill。

\'Whoistobehisheir？\'Asthedoctorrodealong，hecouldnotquiteridhismindofthequestion。Thepoormannowabouttodiehadwealthenoughtomakemanyheirs。Whatifhisheartshouldhavesoftenedtowardshissister\'schild！WhatifMaryshouldbefoundtobepossessedofsuchwealththattheGreshamsshouldbeagainbehappytowelcomeheratGreshamsbury！

Thedoctorwasnotaloverofmoney——andhedidhisbesttogetridofsuchperniciousthoughts。Buthislongings，perhaps，werenotsomuchthatMaryshouldberich，asthatsheshouldhavethepowerofheapingcoalsoffireupontheheadsofthosepeoplewhohadsoinjuredher。

CHAPTERXXIV

LOUISSCATCHERD

WhenDrThornereachedBoxallHillhefoundMrRerechildfromBarchestertherebeforehim。PoorLadyScatcherd，whenherhusbandwasstrickenbythefit，hardlyknewinherdismaywhatadequatestepstotake。Shehad，asamatterofcourse，sentforDrThorne；butshehadthoughtitsograveaperilthatthemedicalskillofnoonemancouldsuffice。Itwas，sheknew，quiteoutofthequestionforhertoinvoketheaidofDrFillgrave，whomnoearthlypersuasioncouldhavebroughttoBoxallHill；andasMrRerechildwassupposedintheBarchesterworldtobesecond——thoughatalonginterval——tothatgreatman，shehadappliedforhisassistance。

NowMrRerechildwasafollowerandhumblefriendofDrFillgrave；andwaswonttoregardanythingthatcamefromtheBarchesterdoctorassureaslightfromthelampofAesculapius。HecouldnotthereforebeotherthananenemyofDrThorne。Buthewasaprudent，discreetman，withalongfamily，aversetoprofessionalhostilities，asknowingthathecouldmakemorebymedicalfriendsthanmedicalfoes，andnotatallinclinedtotakeupanyman\'scudgeltohisowndetriment。Hehad，ofcourse，heardofthatdreadfulaffrontwhichhadbeenputuponhisfriend，ashadallthe\'medicalworld\'——andallthemedicalworldatleastofBarsetshire；andhehadoftenexpressedsympathywithDrFillgraveandhisabhorrenceofDrThorne\'santi-professionalpractices。ButnowthathefoundhimselfabouttobebroughtincontactwithDrThorne，hereflectedthattheGalenofGreshamsburywasatanyrateequalinreputationtohimofBarchester；thattheonewasprobablyontherise，whereastheotherwasalreadyconsideredbysomeasratherantiquated；andhethereforewiselyresolvedthatthepresentwouldbeanexcellentopportunityforhimtomakeafriendofDrThorne。

PoorLadyScatcherdhadaninklingthatDrFillgraveandMrRerechildwereaccustomedtorowinthesameboat，andshewasnotaltogetherfreefromfearthattheremightbeanoutbreak。ShethereforetookanopportunitybeforeDrThorne\'sarrivaltodeprecateanywrathfultendency。

\'Oh，LadyScatcherd！IhavethegreatestrespectforDrThorne，\'saidhe；\'thegreatestpossiblerespect；amostskilfulpractitioner——somethingbrusque，certainly，andperhapsalittleobstinate。Butwhatthen？wehaveallourfaults，LadyScatcherd。\'

\'Oh——yes；weallhave，MrRerechild；that\'sacertain。\'

\'There\'smyfriendFillgrave——LadyScatcherd。Hecannotbearanythingofthatsort。NowIthinkhe\'swrong；andsoItellhim。\'MrRerechildwasinerrorhere；forhehadneveryetventuredtotellDrFillgravethathewaswronginanything。\'Wemustbearandforbear，youknow。DrThorneisanexcellentman——inhiswayveryexcellent，LadyScatcherd。\'

ThislittleconversationtookplaceafterMrRerechild\'sfirstvisittohispatient：whatstepswereimmediatelytakenforthereliefofthesuffererweneednotdescribe。Theyweredoubtlesswellintended，andwere，perhaps，aswelladaptedtostaveoffthecomingevildayasanythatDrFillgrave，oreventhegreatSirOmicronPiemighthaveused。

AndthenDrThornearrived。

\'Oh，doctor！doctor！\'exclaimedLadyScatcherd，almosthangingroundhisneckinthehall。\'Whatarewetodo？Whatarewetodo？He\'sverybad。\'

\'Hashespoken？\'

\'No；nothinglikeaword：hehasmadeoneortwomutteredsounds；but，poorsoul，youcouldmakenothingofit——oh，doctor！doctor！hehasneverbeenlikethisbefore。

ItwaseasytoseewhereLadyScatcherdplacedanysuchfaithasshemightstillhaveinthehealingart。\'MrRerechildishereandhasseenhim，\'shecontinued。\'Ithoughtitbesttosendfortwo，forfearofaccidents。Hehasdonesomething——Idon\'tknowwhat。But，doctor，dotellthetruthnow；Ilooktoyoutotellmethetruth。\'

DrThornewentupandsawhispatient；andhadheliterallycompliedwithLadyScatcherd\'srequest，hemighthavetoldheratoncethattherewasnohope。As，however，hehadnotthehearttodothis，hemystifiedthecaseasdoctorssowellknowhowtodo，andtoldherthat\'therewascausetofear，greatcauseforfear；hewassorrytosay，verygreatcauseformuchfear。\'

DrThornepromisedtostaythenightthere，and，ifpossible，thefollowingnightalso；andthenLadyScatcherdbecametroubledinhermindastowhatsheshoulddowithMrRerechild。Healsodeclared，withmuchmedicalhumanity，that，lettheinconveniencebewhatitmight，hetoowouldstaythenight。\'Theloss，\'hesaid，\'ofsuchamanasSirRogerScatcherdwasofsuchparamountimportanceastomakeothermatterstrivial。HewouldcertainlynotallowthewholeweighttofallontheshouldersofhisfriendDrThorne：healsowouldstayatanyratethatnightbythesickman\'sbedside。Bythefollowingmorningsomechangemightbeexcpected。\'

\'Isay，DrThorne，\'saidherladyship，callingthedoctorintothehousekeeping-room，inwhichsheandHannahspentanytimethattheywerenotrequiredupstairs；\'justcomein，doctor：youwouldn\'ttellhimwedon\'twanthimnomore，couldyou？\'

\'Tellwhom？\'saidthedoctor。

\'Why——MrRerechild：mightn\'thegoaway，doyouthink？\'

DrThorneexplainedthatMrRerechildmightgoawayifhepleased；butthatitwouldbynomeansbeproperforonedoctortotellanothertoleavethehouse。AndsoMrRerechildwasallowedtosharethegloriesofthenight。

Inthemeantimethepatientremainedspeechless；butitsoonbecameevidentthatNaturewasusingallhereffortstomakeonefinalrally。

Fromtimetotimehemoanedandmutteredasthoughhewasconscious，anditseemedasthoughhestrovetospeak。Hegraduallybecameawake，atanyratetosuffering，andDrThornebegantothinkthatthelastscenewouldbepostponedforyetawhilelonger。

\'Wonderfulconstitution——eh，DrThorne？wonderful！\'saidMrRerechild。

\'Yes；hehasbeenastrongman。\'

\'Strongasahorse，DrThorne。Lord，whatthatmanwouldhavebeenifhehadgivenhimselfachance！Youknowhisconstitutionofcourse。\'

\'Yes；prettywell。I\'veattendedhimformanyyears。\'

\'Alwaysdrinking，Isuppose；alwaysatit——eh？\'

\'Hehasnotbeenatemperateman，certainly。\'

\'Thebrain，yousee，cleangone——andnotaparticleofcoatinglefttothestomach；andyetwhatastrugglehemakes——aninterestingcase，isn\'tit？\'

\'It\'sverysadtoseesuchanintellectsodestroyed。\'

\'Verysad，verysadindeed。HowFillgravewouldhavelikedtohaveseenthiscase。Heisaverycleverman，isFillgrave——inhisway，youknow。\'

\'I\'msureheis，\'saidDrThorne。

\'Notthathe\'dmakeanythingofacaselikethisnow——he\'snot，youknow，quite——quite——perhapsnotquiteuptothenewtimeofday，onemightsayso。\'

\'Hehashadaveryextensiveprovincialpractice，\'saidDrThorne。

\'Oh，very——very；andmadeatidylotofmoneytoo，hasFillgrave。He\'sworthsixthousandpounds，Isuppose；nowthat\'sagooddealofmoneytoputbyinalittletownlikeBarchester。\'

\'Yes，indeed。\'

\'WhatIsaytoFillgraveis——keepyoureyesopen；oneshouldneverbetoooldtolearn——there\'salwayssomethingnewworthpickingup。Butno——hewon\'tbelievethat。Hecan\'tbelievethatanynewideascanbeworthanything。Youknowamanmustgotothewallinthatway——eh，doctor？\'

Andthenagaintheywerecalledtotheirpatient。\'He\'sdoingfinely，finely，\'saidMrRerechildtoLadyScatcherd。\'There\'sfairgroundtohopehe\'llrally；fairground，istherenot，doctor？\'

\'Yes；he\'llrally；buthowlongthatmaylast，thatwecanhardlysay。\'

\'Oh，no，certainlynot，certainlynot——thatisnotwithanycertainty；

butstillhe\'sdoingfinely，LadyScatcherd，consideringeverything。\'

\'Howlongwillyougivehim，doctor？\'saidMrRerechildtohisnewfriend，whentheywereagainalone。\'Tendays？Idaresaytendays，orfromthattoafortnight。\'

\'Perhapsso，\'saidthedoctor。\'Ishouldnotliketosayexactlytoaday。\'

\'No，certainlynot。Wecannotsayexactlytoaday；butIsaytendays；asforanythinglikearecovery，thatyouknow——\'

\'Isoutofthequestion，\'saidDrThorne，gravely。

\'Quiteso；quiteso；coatingofthestomachcleangone，youknow；braindestroyed：didyouobservetheperiporollida？Ineversawthemsoswelledbefore：nowwhentheperiporollidaareswollenlikethat——\'

\'Yes，verymuch；it\'salwaysthecasewhenparalysishasbeenbroughtaboutbyintemperance。\'

\'Always，always；Ihaveremarkedthatalways；theperiporollidainsuchcasesarealwaysextended；mostinterestingcase，isn\'tit？IdowishFillgravecouldhaveseenit。But，IbelieveyouandDrFillgravedon\'tquite——eh？\'

\'No，notquite，\'saidDrThorne；who，ashethoughtofhislastinterviewwithDrFillgrave，andofthatgentleman\'sexceedingangerashestoodinthehallbelow，couldnotkeephimselffromsmiling，sadastheoccasionwas。

NothingwouldinducedLadyScatcherdtogotobed；butthetwodoctorsagreedtoliedown，eachinaroomononesideofthepatient。Howwasitpossiblethatanythingbutgoodshouldcometohim，beingsoguarded？\'He\'sgoingonfinely，LadyScatcherd，quitefinely，\'werethelastwordsMrRerechildsaidashelefttheroom。

AndthenDrThorne，takingLadyScatcherd\'shandandleadingheroutintoanotherchamber，toldherthetruth。

\'LadyScatcherd，\'saidhe，inhistenderestvoice——andhisvoicecouldbeverytenderwhenoccasionrequiredit——\'LadyScatcherd，donothope；

youmustnothope；itwouldbecrueltobidyoutodoso。\'

\'Oh，doctor！oh，doctor！\'

\'Mydearfriend，thereisnohope。\'

\'Oh，DrThorne！\'saidthewife，lookingwildlyupintohercompanion\'sface，thoughshehardlyyetrealizedthemeaningofwhathesaid，althoughhersenseswerehalfstunnedbytheblow。

\'DearLadyScatcherd，isitnotbetterthatIshouldtellyouthetruth？\'

\'Oh，Isupposeso；ohyes，ohyes；ahme！ahme！ahme！\'Andthenshebeganrockingherselfbackwardsandforwardsonherchair，withherapronuptohereyes。

\'LooktoHim，LadyScatcherd，whoonlycanmakesuchgriefendurable。\'

\'Yes，yes，yes；Isupposeso。Ahme！ahme！But，DrThorne，theremustbesomechance——isn\'tthereanychance？Thatmansayshe\'sgoingonsowell。\'

\'Ifearthereisnochance——asfarasmyknowledgegoesthereisnochance。\'

\'Thenwhydoesthatchatteringmagpietellsuchliestoawoman？Ahme！ahme！oh，doctor！doctor！whatshallIdo？whatshallIdo？\'andpoorLadyScatcherd，fairlyovercomebyhersorrow，burstoutcryinglikeagreatschool-girl。

Andyetwhathadherhusbanddoneforherthatsheshouldthusweepforhim？Wouldnotherlifebemuchmoreblessedwhenthiscauseofallhertroublesshouldberemovedfromher？Wouldshenotthenbeafreewomaninsteadofaslave？Mightshenotthenexpecttobegintotastethecomfortsoflife？Whathadthatharshtyrantofhersdonethatwasgoodorserviceableforher？Whyshouldshethusweepforhiminparoxysmsoftruestgrief？

Wehearagooddealofjollywidows；andtheslanderousrailleryoftheworldtellmuchofconjugaldisturbancesasacureforwhichwomenwilllookforwardtoastateofwidowhoodwithnotunwillingeyes。Therailleryoftheworldisveryslanderous。Inourdailyjestsweattributetoeachothervicesofwhichneitherwe，norourneighbours，norourfriends，norevenourenemiesareeverguilty。ItisourfavouriteparlancetotalkofthefamilytroublesofMrsGreenonourright，andtotellnowMrsYoungonourleftisstronglysuspectedofhavingraisedherhandtoherlordandmaster。Whatrighthavewetomakethesecharges？Whathaveweseeninourownpersonalwalksthroughlifetomakeusbelievethatwomenaredevils？TheremaypossiblyhavebeenXantippehereandthere，butImogenesaretobefoundineverybush。LadyScatcherd，inspiteofthelifeshehadled，wasoneofthem。

\'YoushouldsendamessageuptoLondonforLouis，\'saidthedoctor。

\'Wedidthat，doctor；wedidthatto-day——wesentupatelegraph。Ohme！ohme！poorboy，whatwillhedo？Ishallneverknowwhattodowithhim，never！never！\'Andwithsuchsorrowfulwailingsshesatrockingherselfthroughthelongnight，everynowandthencomfortingherselfbytheperformanceofsomemenialserviceinthesickman\'sroom。

SirRogerpassedthenightmuchashehadpassedtheday，exceptthatheappearedgraduallytobegrowingnearertoastateofconsciousness。OnthefollowingmorningtheysucceededatlastinmakingMrRerechildunderstandthattheywerenotdesirousofkeepinghimlongerfromhisBarchesterpractice；andatabouttwelveo\'clockDrThornealsowent，promisingthathewouldreturnintheevening，andagainpassthenightatBoxallHill。

InthecourseoftheafternoonSirRogeroncemoreawoketohissenses，andwhenhedidsohissonwasstandingathisbedside。LouisPhilippeScatcherd——orasitmaybemoreconvenienttocallhim，Louis——wasayoungmanjustoftheageofFrankGresham。Buttherecouldhardlybetwoyouthsmoredifferentintheirappearance。Louis，thoughhisfatherandmotherwerebothrobustpersons，wasshortandslight，andnowofasicklyframe。Frankwasapictureofhealthandstrength；

but，thoughmanlyindisposition，wasbynomeansprecociouseitherinappearanceormanners。LouisScatcherdlookedasthoughhewasfouryearstheother\'ssenior。HehadbeensenttoEtonwhenhewasfifteen，hisfatherbeingundertheimpressionthatthiswasthemostreadyandbest-recognizedmethodofmakinghimagentleman。Herehedidnotaltogetherfailasregardedthecovetedobjectofhisbecomingthecompanionofgentlemen。Hehadmorepocket-moneythananyotherladintheschool，andwaspossessedofacertaineffronterywhichcarriedhimaheadamongboysofhisownage。Hegained，therefore，adegreeofeclat，evenamongthosewhoknew，andveryfrequentlysaidtoeachother，thatyoungScatcherdwasnotfittobetheircompanionexceptonsuchopenoccasionsasthoseofcricket-matchesandboat-

races。Boys，inthisrespect，areatleastasexclusiveasmen，andunderstandaswellthedifferencebetweenaninnerandoutercircle。

ScatcherdhadmanycompanionsatschoolwhoweregladenoughtogouptoMaidenheadwithhimhisboat；buttherewasnotoneamongthemwhowouldhavetalkedtohimofhissister。

SirRogerwasvastlyproudofhisson\'ssuccess，anddidhisbesttostimulateitbylavishexpenditureattheChristopher，wheneverhecouldmanagetorundowntoEton。Butthispractice，thoughsufficientlyunexceptionabletotheboys，wasnotheldinequaldelightbythemasters。Totellthetruth，neitherSirRogernorhissonwerefavouriteswiththesesterncustodians。Atlastitwasfeltnecessarytogetridofthemboth；andLouiswasnotlongingivingthemanopportunity，bygettingtipsytwiceinoneweek。Onthesecondoccasionhewassentaway，andheandSirRoger，thoughlongtalkedof，wereseennomoreatEton。

ButtheuniversitieswerestillopentoLouisPhilippe，andbeforehewaseighteenhewasenteredasagentleman-commoneratTrinity。Ashewas，moreover，theeldestsonofabaronet，andhadalmostunlimitedcommandofmoney，herealsohewasenabledforawhiletoshine。

Toshine！butveryfitfully；andonemaysayalmostwithaghastlyglare。Theveryladswhohadeatenhisfather\'sdinnersatEton，andsharedhisfour-oaratEton，knewmuchbetterthantoassociatewithhimatCambridgenowthattheyhadputonthetogavirilis。Theywerestillasproneasevertofun，frolic，anddevilry——perhapsmoresothanever，seeingthatmorewasintheirpower；buttheyacquiredanideathatitbehovedthemtobesomewhatcircumspectastothemenwithwhomtheirprankswereperpetrated。So，inthosedays，LouisScatcherdwascoldlylookedonbyhiswhilomEtonfriends。

ButyoungScatcherddidnotfailtofindcompanionsatCambridgealso。

Therearefewplacesindeedinwhicharichmancannotbuycompanionship。Butthesetwithwhomhelived，weretheworstoftheplace。Theywerefast，slangmen，whowerefastandslang，andnothingelse——menwhoimitatedgroomsinmorethantheirdress，andwholookedonthecustomaryheroesofrace-coursesasthehighestlordsoftheascendantuponearth。AmongthoseatcollegeyoungScatcherddidshineaslongassuchlustrewaspermittedhim。Here，indeed，hisfather，whohadstrivenonlytoencouragehimatEton，didstrivesomewhattocontrolhim。Butthatwasnotnoweasy。Ifhelimitedhisson\'sallowance，heonlydrovehimtodohisdebaucheryoncredit。Therewereplentytolendmoneytothesonofagreatmillionaire；andso，aftereighteenmonths\'trialofauniversityeducation，SirRogerhadnoalternativebuttowithdrawhissonfromhisalmamater。

Whatwashetodowithhim？Unluckilyitwasconsideredquiteunnecessarytotakeanystepstowardsenablinghimtoearnhisbread。

Nownothingonearthcanbemoredifficultthanbringingupwellayoungmanwhohasnottoearnhisownbread，andwhohasnorecognizedstationamongothermensimilarlycircumstanced。Juveniledukes，andsproutingearls，findtheirdutiesandtheirplacesaseasilyasembryoclergymenandsuckingbarristers。Provisionismadefortheirpeculiarpositions：and，thoughtheymaypossiblygoastray，theyhaveafairchancegiventothemofrunningwithintheposts。ThesamemaybesaidofsuchyouthsasFrankGresham。Thereareenoughoftheminthecommunitytohavemadeitnecessarythattheirwell-beingshouldbeamatterofcareandforethought。ButtherearebutfewmenturnedoutintheworldinthepositionofLouisScatcherd；and，ofthosefew，butveryfewentertherealbattleoflifeundergoodauspices。

PoorSirRogerthoughhehadhardlytimewithallhismultitudinousrailwaystolookintothisthoroughly，hadaglimmeringofit。Whenhesawhisson\'spaleface，andpaidhiswinebills，andheardofhisdoingsinhorse-flesh，hedidknowthatthingswerenotgoingwell；hedidunderstandthattheheirtoabaronetcyandafortuneofsometenthousandayearmightbedoingbetter。Butwhatwashetodo？hecouldnotwatchoverhisboyhimself；sohetookatutorforhimandsenthimabroad。

LouisandthetutorgotasfarasBerlin，withwhatmutualsatisfactiontoeachotherneednotbespeciallydescribed。ButfromBerlinSirRogerreceivedaletterinwhichthetutordeclinedtogoanyfurtherinthetaskwhichhehadundertaken。Hefoundthathehadnoinfluenceoverhispupil，andhecouldnotreconcileittohisconsciencetobethespectatorofsuchalifeasthatwhichMrScatcherdled。HehadnopowerininducingMrScatcherdtoleaveBerlin；buthewouldremaintherehimselftillheshouldhearfromSirRoger。SoSirRogerhadtoleavethehugeGovernmentworkswhichhewasthenerectingonthesoutherncoast，andhurryofftoBerlintoseewhatcouldbedonewithyoungHopeful。

TheyoungHopefulwasbynomeansafool；andinsomematterswasmorethanamatchforhisfather。SirRoger，inhisanger，threatenedtocasthimoffwithoutashilling。Louis，withmixedpenitenceandeffrontery，remindedhimthathecouldnotchangethedescentofthetitle；promisedamendment；declaredthathehaddoneonlyasdootheryoungmenoffortune；andhintedthatthetutorwasastrait-lacedass。ThefatherandthesonreturnedtogethertoBoxallHill，andthreemonthsafterwardsMrScatcherdsetupforhimselfinLondon。

Andnowhislife，ifnotmorevirtuous，wasmorecraftythanithadbeen。Hehadnotutortowatchhisdoingsandcomplainofthem，andhehadsufficientsensetokeephimselffromabsolutepecuniaryruin。Helived，itistrue，wheresharpersandblacklegshadtoooftenopportunitiesofpluckinghim；but，youngashewas，hehadbeensufficientlylongabouttheworldtotakecarehewasnotopenlyrobbed；andashewasnotopenlyrobbed，hisfather，inacertainsense，wasproudofhim。

Tidings，however，came——cameatleastinthoselastdays——whichcutSirRogertothequick；tidingsofviceinthesonwhichthefathercouldnotbutattributetohisownexample。Twicehismotherwascalleduptothesick-bedofheronlychild，whilehelayravinginthathorridmadnessbywhichtheoutragedmindavengesitselfonthebody！Twicehewasfoundragingindeliriumtremens，andtwicethefatherwastoldthatacontinuanceofsuchlifemustendinearlydeath。

ItmayeasilybeconceivedthatSirRogerwasnotahappyman。Lyingtherewiththatbrandybottlebeneathhispillow，reflectinginhismomentsofrestthatthatsonofhishadhisbrandybottlebeneathhispillow，hecouldhardlyhavebeenhappy。Buthewasnotamantosaymuchabouthismisery。Thoughhecouldrestrainneitherhimselfnorhisheir，hecouldendureinsilence；andinsilencehedidendure，till，openinghiseyestotheconsciousnessofdeath，heatlastspokeafewwordstotheonlyfriendheknew。

LouisScatcherdwasnotafool，norwashenaturally，perhaps，ofadepraveddisposition；buthehadtoreapthefruitsoftheworsteducationwhichEnglandwasabletogivehim。Thereweremomentsinhislifewhenhefeltthatabetter，ahigher，nay，amuchhappiercareerwasopentohimthanthatwhichhehadpreparedhimselftolead。Nowandthen，hewouldreflectwhatmoneyandrankmighthavedoneforhim；hewouldlookwithwishfuleyestotheprouddoingsofothersofhisage；woulddreamofquietjoys，ofasweetwife，ahousetowhichmightbeaskedfriendswhowereneitherjockeysnordrunkards；

hewoulddreamofsuchthingsinhisshortintervalsofconstrainedsobriety；butthedreamwouldonlyservetomakehimmoody。

Thiswasthebestsideofhischaracter；theworst，probably，wasthatwhichwasbroughtintoplaybythefactthathewasnotafool。Hewouldhaveabetterchanceofredemptioninthisworld——perhapsalsoinanother——hadhebeenafool。Asitwas，hewasnofool：hewasnottobedone，nothe；heknew，noonebetter，thevalueofashilling；heknew，also，howtokeephisshillings，andhowtospendthem。Heconsortedmuchwithblacklegsandsuch-likebecauseblacklegsweretohistaste。Butheboasteddaily，nay，hourlytohimself，andfrequentlytothosearoundhim，thattheleecheswhowerestuckroundhimcoulddrawbutlittlebloodfromhim。Hecouldspendhismoneyfreely；buthewouldsospenditthathehimselfmightreapthegratificationoftheexpenditure。Hewasacute，crafty，knowing，anduptoeverydamnabledodgepractisedbymenoftheclasswithwhomhelived。Atone-and-twentyhewasthatmostodiousofallodiouscharacters-aclose-fistedreprobate。

Hewasasmallman，notill-madebyNature，butreducedtounnaturaltenuitybydissipation-acorporealattributeofwhichhewasapttoboast，asitenabledhim，ashesaid，toputhimselfupat7st7lbwithoutany\'d——nonsenseofnoteatinganddrinking\'。Thepower，however，wasoneofwhichhedidnotoftenavailhimself，ashisnerveswereseldominafitstateforriding。Hishairwasdarkred，andheworeredmoustaches，andagreatdealofredbeardbeneathhischin，cutinamannertomakehimlooklikeanAmerican。HisvoicealsohadaYankeetwang，beingacrossbetweenthatofanAmericantraderandanEnglishgroom；andhiseyeswerekeenandfixed，andcoldandknowing。

SuchwasthesonwhomSirRogersawstandingathisbedsidewhenfirstheawoketohisconsciousness。ItmustnotbesupposedthatSirRogerlookedathimwithoureyes。Tohimhewasanonlychild，theheirofhiswealth，thefuturebearerofhistitle；themostheart-stirringremembrancerofthosedays，whenhehadbeensomuchapoorer，andsomuchahappierman。Letthatboybebadorgood，hewasallSirRogerhad；andthefatherwasstillabletohope，whenothersthoughtthatallgroundforhopewasgone。

Themotheralsolovedhersonwithamother\'snaturallove；butLouishadeverbeenashamedofhismother，andhad，asfaraspossible，estrangedhimselffromher。Herheart，perhaps，fixeditselfalmostwithalmostawarmerloveonFrankGresham，herfoster-son。Frankshesawbutseldom，butwhenshedidseehimheneverrefusedherembrace。

Therewas，too，ajoyous，geniallustreaboutFrank\'sfacewhichalwaysendearedhimtowomen，andmadehisformernurseregardhimasthepetcreationoftheage。Thoughshebutseldominterferedwithanymonetaryarrangementofherhusband\'s，yetonceortwiceshehadventuredtohintthatalegacylefttotheyoungsquirewouldmakeherahappywoman。SirRoger，however，ontheseoccasionshadnotappearedverydesirousofmakinghiswifehappy。

\'Ah，Louis！isthatyou？\'ejaculatedSirRoger，intoneshardlymorethanhalf-formed：afterwardsinadayortwothatis，hefullyrecoveredhisvoice；butjustthenhecouldhardlyopenhisjaws，andspokealmostthroughhisteeth。Hemanaged，however，toputouthishandandlayitonthecounterpane，sothathissoncouldtakeit。

\'Why，that\'swell，governor，\'saidtheson；\'you\'llbeasrightasatrivetinadayortwo——eh，governor？\'

The\'governor\'smiledwithaghastlysmile。Healreadyprettywellknewthathewouldneveragainbe\'right\'ashissoncalledit，onthatsideofthegrave。Itdidnot，moreover，suithimtosaymuchjustatthatmoment，sohecontentedhimselfwithholdinghisson\'shand。Helaystillinthispositionforamoment，andthen，turningroundpainfullyonhisside，endeavouredtoputhishandtotheplacewherehisdireenemyusuallywasconcealed。SirRoger，however，wastooweaknowtobehisownmaster；hewasatlength，thoughtoolate，acaptiveinthehandsofnursesanddoctors，andthebottlehadnowbeenremoved。

ThenLadyScatcherdcamein，andseeingthatherhusbandwasnotlongerunconscious，shecouldnotbutbelievethatDrThornehadbeenwrong；

shecouldnotbutthinkthattheremustbesomegroundforhope。Shethrewherselfonherkneesatthebedsideburstingintotearsasshedidso，andtakingSirRoger\'shandinhersandcovereditwithkisses。

\'Bother！\'saidSirRoger。

Shedidnot，however，longoccupyherselfwiththeindulgenceofherfeelings；butgoingspeedilytowork，producedsuchsustenanceasthedoctorshadorderedtobegivenwhenthepatientmightawake。A

breakfast-cupwasbroughttohim，andafewdropswereputintohismouth；buthesoonmadeitmanifestthathewouldtakenothingmoreofadescriptionsoperfectlyinnocent。

\'Adropofbrandy——justalittledrop，\'saidhe，half-ordering，half-entreating。

\'Ah，Roger，\'saidLadyScatcherd。

\'Justalittledrop，Louis，\'saidthesickman，appealingtohisson。

\'Alittlewillbegoodforhim；bringthebottle，mother，\'saidtheson。

Aftersomealtercationthebrandybottlewasbrought，andLouis，withwhatathoughtaverysparinghand，proceededtopourabouthalfawine——glassintothecup。Ashedidso，SirRoger，weakashewas，contrivedtoshakehisson\'sarm，soasgreatlytoincreasethedose。

\'Ha！ha！ha！\'laughedthesickman，andthengreedilyswallowedthedose。

CHAPTERXXV

SIRROGERDIES

ThatnightthedoctorstayedatBoxallHill，andthenextnight；sothatitbecameacustomarythingforhimtosleepthereduringthelatterpartofSirRoger\'sillness。HereturnedhometoGreshamsbury；

forhehadhispatientsthere，towhomhewasasnecessaryastoSirRoger，theforemostofwhomwasLadyArabella。Hehad，therefore，noslightworkonhishands，seeingthathisnightswerebynomeanswhollydevotedtorest。

MrRerechildhadnotbeenmuchwrongastotheremainingspaceoflifewhichhehadallottedtothedyingman。OnceortwiceDrThornehadthoughtthatthegreatoriginalstrengthofhispatientwouldhaveenabledhimtofightagainstdeathforasomewhatlongerperiod；butSirRogerwouldgivehimselfnochance。Wheneverhewasstrongenoughtohaveawillofhisown，heinsistedonhavinghisverymedicinemixedwithbrandy；andinthehoursofthedoctor\'sabsence，hewastoooftensuccessfulinhisattempts。

\'Itdoesnotmuchmatter，\'DrThornehadsaidtoLadyScatcherd。\'Dowhatyoucantokeepdownthequantity，butdonotirritatehimbyrefusingtoobey。Itdoesnotmuchsignifynow。\'SoLadyScatcherdstilladministeredthealcohol，andhefromdaytodayinventedlittleschemesforincreasingtheamount，overwhichhechuckledwithghastlylaughter。

TwoorthreetimesthesedaysSirRogeressayedtospeakseriouslytohisson；butLouisalwaysfrustratedhim。Heeithergotoutoftheroomonsomeexcuse，ormadehismotherinterfereonthescorethatsomuchtalkingwouldbebadforhisfather。Healreadyknewwithtolerableaccuracywhatwasthepurportofhisfather\'swill，andbynomeansapprovedofit；butashecouldnotnowhopetoinducehisfathertoalteritsoastomakeitmorefavourabletohimself，heconceivedthatnoconversationonmattersofbusinesscouldbeofusetohim。

\'Louis，\'saidSirRoger，oneafternoontohisson；\'Louis，IhavenotdonebyyouasIoughttohavedone——Iknowthatnow。\'

\'Nonsense，governor；nevermindaboutitnow；IshalldowellenoughI

daresay。Besides，itisn\'ttoolate；youcanmakeittwenty-threeyearsinsteadoftwenty-five。\'

\'Idonotmeanastomoney，Louis。Therearethingsbesidesmoneywhichafatheroughttolookto。\'

\'Now，father，don\'tfretyourself——I\'mallright；youmaybesureofthat。\'

\'Louis，it\'sthataccursedbrandy——it\'sthatthatI\'mafraidof：youseemehere，myboy，I\'mlyingherenow。\'

\'Don\'tyoubeannoyingyourself，governor；I\'mallright——quiteright；

andasforyou，why，you\'llbeupandaboutyourselfinanothermonthorso。\'

\'Ishallneverbeoffthisbed，myboy，tillI\'mcarriedintomycoffin，onthosechairsthere。ButI\'mnotthinkingofmyself，Louis，butyou；thinkwhatyoumayhavebeforeyouifyoucan\'tavoidthataccursedbottle。\'

\'I\'mallright，governor；rightasatrivet。It\'sverylittleItake，exceptatanoddtimeortwo。\'

\'Oh，Louis！Louis！\'

\'Come，father，cheerup；thissortofthingisn\'tthethingforyouatall。Iwonderwheremotheris：sheoughttobeherewiththebroth；

justletmego，andI\'llseeforher。\'

Thefatherunderstooditall。Hesawthatitwasnowmuchbeyondhisfadedpowerstotouchtheheartorconscienceofsuchayouthashissonhadbecome。Whatnowcouldhedoforhisboyexceptdie？Whatelse，whatotherbenefit，didhissonrequireofhimbuttodie；todiesothathismeansofdissipationmightbeunbounded？Heletgotheunresistinghandwhichheheld，and，astheyoungmancreptoutoftheroom，heturnedhisfacetothewall。Heturnedhisfacetothewall，andheldbittercommunewithhisownheart。Towhathadhebroughthimself？Towhathadhebroughthisson？Oh，howhappywouldithavebeenforhimcouldhehaveremainedallhisdaysaworkingstone-masoninBarchester！Howhappycouldhehavediedassuch，yearsago！Suchtearsasthosewhichwetthepillowarethebitterestwhichhumaneyescanshed。

Butwhiletheyweredropping，thememoirofhislifewasinquickcourseofpreparation。Itwas，indeed，nearlycompleted，withconsiderabledetail。Hehadlingeredonfourdayslongerthanmighthavebeenexpected，andtheauthorhadthushadmorethanusualtimeforthework。Inthesedaysamanisnobodyunlesshisbiographyiskeptsofarpostedupthatitmaybereadyforthenationalbreakfast-tableonthemorningafterhisdemise。Whenitchancesthatthedeadheroisonewhoistakeninhisprimeoflife，ofwhosedeparturefromamongusthemostfar-seeing，biographicalscribecanhavenopropheticinkling，thismustbedifficult。Ofgreatmen，fullofyears，whoareripeofthesickle，whointhecourseofNaturemustsoonfall，itisofcoursecomparativelyeasyforanactivecompilertohavehiscompletememoirreadyinhisdesk。Butinorderthattheideaofomnipresentandomniscientinformationmaybekeptup，theyoungmustbechronicledasquicklyastheold。Insomecasesthistaskmust，onewouldsay，bedifficult。Neverthelessitisdone。

ThememoirofSirRogerScatcherdwasprogressingfavourably。Inthisitwastoldhowfortunatehadbeenhislife；now，inhiscase，industryandgeniuscombinedhadtriumphedoverthedifficultieswhichhumblebirthanddeficienteducationhadthrowninhisway；howhehadmadeanameamongEngland\'sgreatmen；howtheQueenhaddelightedtohonourhim，andnobleshadbeenproudtohavehimasaguestattheirmansions。Thenfollowedalistofallthegreatworkswhichhehadachieved，oftherailroads，canals，docks，harbours，jails，andhospitalswhichhehadconstructed。Hisnamewasheldupasanexampletothelabouringclassesofhiscountrymen，andhewaspointedatasonewhohadlivedanddiedhappy——everhappy，saidthebiographer，becauseeverindustrious。Andsoagreatmoralquestionwasinculcated。AshortparagraphwasdevotedtohisappearanceinParliament；andunfortunateMrRomerwasagainheldupfordisgrace，forthethirtiethtime，ashavingbeenthemeansofdeprivingourlegislativecouncilsofthegreatassistanceofSirRoger\'sexperience。

\'SirRoger，\'saidthebiographerinhisconcludingpassage，\'waspossessedofanironframe；butevenironwillyieldtotherepeatedblowsofthehammer。Inthelatteryearsofhislifehewasknowntoovertaskhimself；andatlengththebodygaveway，thoughthemindremainedfirmtothelast。Thesubjectofthismemoirwasonlyfifty-ninewhenhewastakenfromus。\'

AndthusSirRoger\'slifewaswritten，whilethetearswereyetfallingonhispillowatBoxallHill。Itwasapitythataproof-sheetcouldnothavebeensenttohim。Nomanwasvainerofhisreputation，anditwouldhavegreatlygratifiedhimtoknowthatposteritywasabouttospeakofhiminsuchterms——tospeakofhimwithavoicethatwouldbeaudiblefortwenty-fourhours。

SirRogermadenofurtherattempttogivecounseltohisson。Itwastooevidentlyuseless。Theolddyinglionfeltthatthelion\'spowerhadalreadypassedfromhim，andthathewashelplessinthehandsoftheyoungcubwhowassosoontoinheritthewealthoftheforest。ButDrThornewasmorekindtohim。Hehadsomethingyettosayastohisworldlyhopesandworldlycares；andhisoldfrienddidnotturnadeafeartohim。

ItwasduringthenightthatSirRogerwasmostanxioustotalk，andmostcapableoftalking。Hewouldliethroughthedayinastatehalf-comatose；buttowardseveningwouldrousehimself，andbymidnighthewouldbefulloffitfulenergy。Onenight，ashelaywakefulandfullofthought，hethuspouredforthhiswholehearttoDrThorne。

\'Thorne，\'saidhe，\'Itoldyouaboutmywill，youknow。\'

\'Yes，\'saidtheother；\'andIhaveblamedmyselfgreatlythatIhavenotagainurgedyoutoalterit。Yourillnesscametoosuddenly，Scatcherd；andthenIwasaversetospeakofit。\'

\'WhyshouldIalterit？Itisagoodwill；asgoodasIcanmake。NotbutthatIhavealtereditsinceIspoketoyou。Ididitthatdayafteryouleftme。\'

\'HaveyoudefinitelynamedyourheirindefaultofLouis？\'

\'No——thatis——yes——Ihaddonethatbefore；IhavesaidMary\'seldestchild：Ihavenotalteredthat。\'

\'But，Scatcherd，youmustalterit。\'

\'Must！wellthen，Iwon\'t；butI\'lltellyouwhatIhavedone。Ihaveaddedapostscript——acodiciltheycallit——sayingthatyou，andyouonly，knowwhoishereldestchild。WinterbonesandJackMartinhavewitnessedthat。\'

DrThornewasgoingtoexplainhowveryinjudicioussuchanarrangementappearedtobe；butSirRogerwouldnotlistentohim。Itwasnotaboutthatthathewishedtospeaktohim。Tohimitwasamatterofbutminorinterestwhomightinherithismoneyifhissonshoulddieearly；hiscarewassolelyforhisson\'swelfare。Attwenty-fivetheheirmightmakehisownwill——mightbequeathallthiswealthaccordingtohisownfancy。SirRogerwouldnotbringhimselftobelievethathissoncouldfollowhimtothegraveinsoshortatime。

\'Nevermindthat，doctor，now；butaboutLouis；youwillbehisguardian，youknow。\'

\'Nothisguardian。Heismorethanofage。\'

\'Ah！butdoctor，youwillbehisguardian。Thepropertywillnotbehistillhebetwenty-five。Youwillnotdeserthim？\'

\'Iwillnotdeserthim；butIdoubtwhetherIcandomuchforhim——whatcanIdo，Scatcherd？\'

\'Usethepowerthatastrongmanhasoveraweakone。Usethepowerthatmywillwillgiveyou。Doforhimasyouwouldforasonofyourownifyousawhimgoinginbadcourses。Doasafriendshoulddoforafriendthatisdeadandgone。Iwoulddosoforyou，doctor，ifourplaceswerechanged。\'

\'WhatcanIdo，thatIwilldo，\'saidThorne，solemnly，takingashespokethecontractor\'sowninhisownwithatightgrasp。

\'Iknowyouwill；Iknowyouwill。Oh！doctor，mayyouneverfeelasIdonow！Mayyouonyourdeath-bedhavenodreadasIhave，astothefateofthoseyouwillleavebehindyou！\'

DoctorThornefeltthathecouldnotsaymuchinanswertothis。ThefuturefateofLouisScatcherdwas，hecouldnotbutowntohimself，greatlytobedreaded。Whatgood，whathappiness，couldbepresagedforsuchaoneashewas？Whatcomfortcouldheoffertothefather？

Andthenhewascalledontocompare，asitwere，theprospectsofthisunfortunatewiththoseofhisowndarling；tocontrastallthatwasmurky，foul，anddisheartening，withallthatwasperfect——fortohimshewasallbutperfect；tolikenLouisScatcherdtotheangelwhobrightenedhisownhearthstone。Howcouldheanswertosuchanappeal？

Hesaidnothing；butmerelytightenedhisgraspoftheother\'shand，tosignifythathewoulddo，asbesthecould，allthatwasaskedofhim。

SirRogerlookedupsadlyintothedoctor\'sface，asthoughexpectingsomewordofconsolation。Therewasnocomfort，noconsolation。

\'Forthreeorfouryears，hemustgreatlydependonyou，\'continuedSirRoger。

\'IwilldowhatIcan，\'saidthedoctor。\'WhatIcandoIwilldo。Butheisnotachild，Scatcherd：athisagehemuststandorfallmainlybyhisownconduct。Thebestthingforhimwillbetomarry。\'

\'Exactly；that\'sjustit，Thorne：Iwascomingtothat。Ifhewouldmarry，Ithinkhewoulddowellyet，forallthathascomeandgone。Ifhemarried，ofcourseyouwouldlethimhavethecommandofhisownincome。\'

\'Iwillbegovernedentirelybyyourwishes：underanycircumstanceshisincomewill，asIunderstand，bequitesufficientforhim，marriedorsingle。\'

\'Ah！——but，Thorne，Ishouldliketothinkheshouldshinewiththebestofthem。ForwhatIhavemadethemoneyforifnotforthat？Nowifhemarries——decently，thatis——somewomanyouknowthatcanassisthimintheworld，lethimhavewhathewants。ItisnottosavethemoneythatIhaveputitintoyourhands。\'

\'No，Scatcherd；nottosavethemoney，buttosavehim。Ithinkthatwhileyouareyetwithhimyoushouldadvisehimtomarry。\'

\'HedoesnotcareastrawforwhatIadvise，notonestraw。Whyshouldhe？HowcanItellhimtobesoberwhenIhavebeenabeastallmylife？HowcanIadvisehim？That\'swhereitis！Itisthatthatnowkillsme。Advise！Why，whenIspeaktohimhetreatsmelikeachild。\'

\'Hefearsthatyouaretooweak，youknow：hethinksthatyoushouldnotbeallowedtotalk。\'

\'Nonsense！heknowsbetter；youknowbetter。Tooweak！whatsignifies？WouldInotgiveallthatIhaveofstrengthatoneblowifIcouldopenhiseyestoseeasIseebutforoneminute？\'Andthesickmanraisedhimselfinhisbedasthoughhewereactuallygoingtoexpendallthatremainedtohimofvigourintheenergyofthemoment。

\'Gently，Scatcherd；gently。Hewilllistentoyouyet；butdonotbesounruly。\'

\'Thorne，youseethatbottlethere？Givemehalfaglassofbrandy。\'

Thedoctorturnedroundinhischair；buthehesitatedindoingashewasdesired。

\'DoasIaskyou，doctor。Itcandonoharmnow；youknowthatwellenough。Whytorturemenow？\'

\'No，Iwillnottortureyou；butyouwillhavewaterwithit？\'

\'Water！No；thebrandybyitself。ItellyouIcannotspeakwithoutit。What\'stheuseofcantingnow？Youknowitcanmakenodifference。\'

SirRogerwasright。Itcouldmakenodifference；andDrThornegavehimthehalfglassofbrandy。

\'Ah，well；you\'veastingyhand，doctor；confoundedstingy。Youdon\'tmeasureyourmedicinesoutinsuchlightdoses。\'

\'Youwillbewantingmorebeforemorning，youknow。\'

\'Beforemorning！indeedIshall；apintortwobeforethat。Irememberthetime，doctor，whenIhavedrunktomyowncheekabovetwoquartsbetweendinnerandbreakfast！aye，andworkedalldayafterit！\'

\'Youhavebeenawonderfulman，Scatcherd，verywonderful。\'

\'Aye，wonderful！well，nevermind。It\'sovernow。ButwhatwasI

saying？——aboutLouis，doctor；you\'llnotdeserthim？\'

\'Certainlynot。\'

\'He\'snotstrong；Iknowthat。Howshouldhebestrong，livingashehasdone？NotthatitseemedtohurtmewhenIwashisage。\'

\'Youhadtheadvantageofhardwork。\'

\'That\'sit。SometimesIwishthatLouishadnotashillingintheworld；thathehadtotrudgeaboutwithanapronroundhiswaistasI

did。Butit\'stoolatenowtothinkofthat。Ifhewouldmarry，doctor。\'

DrThorneagainexpressedanopinionthatnostepwouldbesolikelytoreformthehabitsoftheyoungheirasmarriage；andrepeatedhisadvicetothefathertoimplorehissontotakeawife。

\'I\'lltellyouwhat，Thorne，\'saidhe。Andthen，afterapause，hewenton。\'Ihavenothalftoldyouasyetwhatisonmymind；andI\'mnearlyafraidtotellit；though，indeed，Idon\'tknowwhatIshouldbe。\'

\'Ineverknewyouafraidofanythingyet，\'saidthedoctor，smilinggently。

\'Well，then，I\'llnotendbyturningcoward。Now，doctor，tellthetruthtome；whatdoyouexpectmetodoforthatgirlofyoursthatweweretalkingof——Mary\'schild？\'

Therewasapauseforamoment，forThornewasslowtoanswerhim。

\'Youwouldnotletmeseeher，youknow，thoughsheismynieceastrulyasyours。\'

\'Nothing，\'atlastsaidthedoctor，slowly。\'Iexpectnothing。Iwouldnotletyouseeher，andtherefore，Iexpectnothing。\'

\'ShewillhaveitallifpoorLouisshoulddie，\'saidSirRoger。

\'Ifyouintenditsoyoushouldputhernameintothewill，\'saidtheother。\'NotthatIaskyouorwishyoutodoso。Mary，thankGod，candowithoutwealth。\'

\'Thorne，ononeconditionIwillputhernameintoit。Iwillalteritononecondition。Letthetwocousinsbemanandwife——letLouismarrypoorMary\'schild。\'

Thepropositionforamomenttookawaythedoctor\'sbreath，andhewasunabletoanswer。NotforallthewealthofIndiawouldhehavegivenuphislambtothatyoungwolf，eventhoughhehadhadthepowertodoso。Butthatlamb——lambthoughshewas——had，ashewellknew，awillofherownonsuchamatter。Whatalliancecouldbemoreimpossible，thoughthetohimself，thanonebetweenMaryThorneandLouisScatcherd？

\'Iwillalteritallifyouwillgivemeyourhanduponitthatyouwilldoyourbesttobringaboutthismarriage。Everythingshallbehisonthedayhemarriesher；andshouldhedieunmarried，itshallallthenbehersbyname。Saytheword，Thorne，andsheshallcomehereatonce。Ishallyethavetimetoseeher。\'

ButDrThornedidnotsaytheword；justatthemomenthesaidnothing，butheslowlyshookhishead。

\'Whynot，Thorne？\'

\'Myfriend，itisimpossible。\'

\'Whyimpossible？\'

\'Herhandisnotminetodisposeof，norisherheart。\'

\'Thenlethercomeoverherself。\'

\'What！Scatcherd，thatthesonmightmakelovetoherwhilethefatherissodangerouslyill！Bidhercometolookforarichhusband！Thatwouldnotbeseemly，wouldit？\'

\'No；notforthat：lethercomemerelythatImayseeher；thatwemayallknowher。Iwillleavethemattertheninyourhandsifyouwillpromisemetodoyourbest。\'

\'But，myfriend，inthismatterIcannotdomybest。Icandonothing。And，indeed，Imaysayatonce，thatitisaltogetheroutofthequestion。Iknow——\'

\'Whatdoyouknow？\'saidthebaronet，turningonhimalmostangrily。

\'Whatcanyouknowtomakeyousaythatitisimpossible？Issheapearlofsuchpricethatamanmaynotwinher？\'

\'Sheisapearlofgreatprice。\'

\'Believeme，doctor，moneygoesfarinwinningsuchpearls。\'

\'Perhapsso；Iknowlittleaboutit。ButthisIdoknow，thatmoneywillnotwinher。Letustalkofsomethingelse；believeme，itisuselessforustothinkofthis。\'

\'Yes；ifyousetyourfaceagainstitobstinately。YoumustthinkverypoorlyofLouisifyousupposethatnogirlcanfancyhim。\'

\'Ihavenotsaidso，Scatcherd。\'

\'Tohavethespendingoftenthousandayear，andbeabaronet\'slady！

Why，doctor，whatisityouexpectforthisgirl？\'

\'Notmuch，indeed；notmuch。Aquietheartandaquiethome；notmuchmore。\'

\'Thorne，ifyouwillberuledbymeinthis，sheshallbethemosttoppingwomaninthiscounty。\'

\'Myfriend，myfriend，whythusgrieveme？Whyshouldyouthusharassyourself？Itellyouitisimpossible。Theyhaveneverseeneachother；theyhavenothing，andcanhavenothingincommon；theirtastes，andwishes，andpursuitsaredifferent。Besides，Scatcherd，marriagesneveranswerthataresomade；believeme，itisimpossible。\'

Thecontractorthrewhimselfbackonhisbed，andlayforsometenminutesperfectlyquiet；somuchsothatthedoctorbegantothinkthathewassleeping。Sothinking，andweariedbythewatching，DrThornewasbeginningtocreepquietlyfromtheroom，whenhiscompanionagainrousedhimself，almostwithvehemence。

\'Youwon\'tdothisthingforme，then？\'saidhe。

\'Doit！Itisnotforyouormetodosuchthingsasthat。Suchthingsmustbelefttothoseconcernedthemselves。\'

\'Youwillnotevenhelpme？\'

\'Notinthisthing，SirRoger。\'

\'Thenby——，sheshallnotunderanycircumstanceseverhaveashillingofmine。Givemesomeofthatstuffthere，\'andheagainpointedtothebrandybottlewhichstoodeverwithinhissight。\'

Thedoctorpouredoutandhandedtohimanothersmallmodicumofspirit。

\'Nonsense，man；filltheglass。I\'llstandnononsensenow。I\'llbemasterofmyownhousetothelast。Giveithere，Itellyou。Tenthousanddevilsaretearingmewithin。You——youcouldhavecomfortedme；butyouwouldnot。FilltheglassItellyou。\'

\'IshouldbekillingyouwereItodoit。\'

\'Killingme！killingme！youarealwaystalkingofkillingme。DoyousupposethatIamafraidtodie？DonotIknowhowsoonitiscoming？Givemethebrandy，Isay，orIwillbeoutacrosstheroomtofetchit。\'

\'No，Scatcherd。Icannotgiveittoyou；notwhileIamhere。Doyourememberhowyouwereengagedthismorning？\'——hehadthatmorningtakenthesacramentfromtheparishclergyman——\'youwouldnotwishtomakemeguiltyofmurder，wouldyou？\'

\'Nonsense！Youaretalkingnonsense；habitissecondnature。ItellyouIshallsinkwithoutit。Why，youknow，Ialwaysgetitdirectlyyourbackitturned。Come，Iwillnotbebulliedinmyownhouse；givemethatbottle，Isay！\'——andSirRogeressayed，vainlyenough，toraisehimselffromthebed。

\'Stop，Scatcherd；Iwillgiveittoyou——Iwillhelpyou。Itmaybethathabitissecondnature。\'SirRogerinhisdeterminedenergyhadswallowed，withoutthinkingofit，thesmallquantitywhichthedoctorhadbeforepouredoutforhim，andstillheldtheemptyglasswithinhishand。Thisthedoctornowtookandfillednearlytothebrim。

\'Come，Thorne，abumper；abumperforthisonce。“Whateverthedrink，itabumpermustbe。“Youstingyfellow！Iwouldnottreatyouso。

Well——well。\'

\'It\'saboutasfullasyoucanholdit，Scatcherd。\'

\'Tryme；tryme！myhandisarock；atleastatholdingliquor。\'Andthenhedrainedthecontentsoftheglass，whichwereinsufficientquantitytohavetakenawaythebreathofanyordinaryman。

\'Ah，I\'mbetternow。But，Thorne，Idoloveafullglass，ha！ha！ha！\'

Therewassomethingfrightful，almostsickening，inthepeculiarhoarsegutturaltoneofhisvoice。Thesoundscamefromhimasthoughsteepedinbrandy，andtold，alltooplainly，thehavocwhichthealcoholhadmade。Therewasafiretooabouthiseyeswhichcontrastedwithhissunkencheeks：hishangingjaw，unshornbeard，andhaggardfacewereterribletolookat。Hishandsandarmswerehotandclammy，butsothinandwasted！Ofhislowerlimbsthelostusehadnotreturnedtohim，sothatinallhiseffortsatvehemencehewascontrolledbyhisownwantofvitality。Whenhesupportedhimself，half-sittingagainstthepillows，hewasinacontinualtremor；andyet，asheboasted，hecouldstilllifthisglasssteadilytohismouth。Suchnowwastheheroofwhomthatreadycompilerofmemoirshadjustfinishedhiscorrectandsuccinctaccount。

Afterhehadhadhisbrandy，hesatglaringawhileatvacancy，asthoughhewasdeadtoallaroundhim，andwasthinking——thinking——thinkingofthingsintheinfinitedistanceofthepast。

\'ShallIgonow，\'saidthedoctor，\'andsendLadyScatcherdtoyou？\'

\'Waitawhile，doctor；justoneminutelonger。SoyouwilldonothingforLouis，then？\'

\'IwilldoeverythingforhimthatIcando。\'

\'Ah，yes！everythingbuttheonethingthatwillsavehim。Well，I

willnotaskyouagain。Butremember，Thorne，Ishallaltermywillto-morrow。\'

\'Doso，byallmeans；youmaywellalteritforthebetter。IfImayadviseyou，youwillhavedownyourownbusinessattorneyfromLondon。

Ifyouwillletmesendhewillbeherebeforeto-morrownight。\'

\'Thankyoufornothing，Thorne：Icanmanagethatmattermyself。Nowleaveme；butremember，youhaveruinedthatgirl\'sfortune。\'

Thedoctordidleavehim，andwentnotaltogetherhappytohisroom。Hecouldnotbutconfesstohimselfthathehad，despitehimselfasitwere，fedhimselfwithhopethatMary\'sfuturemightbemademoresecure，aye，andbrightertoo，bysomesmallunheededfractionbrokenofffromthehugemassofheruncle\'swealth。Suchhope，ifithadamountedtohope，wasnowallgone。Butthiswasnotall，norwasthistheworstofit。ThathehaddonerightinutterlyrepudiatingallideaofamarriagebetweenMaryandhercousin——ofthathewascertainenough；thatnoearthlyconsiderationwouldhaveinducedMarytoplighthertrothtosuchaman——that，withhim，wasascertainasdoom。Buthowfarhadhedonerightinkeepingherfromthesightofheruncle？

Howcouldhejustifyittohimselfifhehadthusrobbedherofherinheritance，seeingthathehaddonesofromaselfishfearlestshe，whowasnowallhisown，shouldbeknowntotheworldasbelongingtoothersratherthantohim？Hehadtakenuponhimonherbehalftorejectwealthasvalueless；andyethehadnosoonerdonesothanhebegantoconsumehishourswithreflectinghowgreattoherwouldbethevalueofwealth。Andthus，whenSirRogertoldhim，ashelefttheroom，thathehadruinedMary\'sfortune，hewashardlyabletobearthetauntwithequanimity。

Onthenextmorning，afterpayinghisprofessionalvisittohispatient，andsatisfyinghimselfthattheendwasnowdrawingnearwithstepsterriblyquickened，hewentdowntoGreshamsbury。

\'Howlongisthistolast，uncle？\'saidhisniece，withsadvoice，asheagainpreparedtoreturntoBoxallHill。

\'Notlong，Mary；donotbegrudgehimafewmorehoursoflife。\'

\'No，Idonot，uncle。Iwillsaynothingmoreaboutit。Ishissonwithhim？\'Andthen，perverselyenough，shepersistedinaskingnumerousquestionsaboutLouisScatcherd。

\'Ishelikelytomarry，uncle？\'

\'Ihopeso，mydear。\'

\'Willhebesoveryrich？\'

\'Yes；ultimatelyhewillbeveryrich。\'

\'Hewillbeabaronet，willhenot？\'

\'Yes，mydear。\'

\'Whatishelike，uncle？\'

\'Like——Ineverknowwhatayoungmanislike。Heislikeamanwithredhair。\'

\'Uncle，youaretheworsthandindescribingIeverknew。IfI\'dseenhimforfiveminutes，I\'dbeboundtomakeaportraitofhim；andyou，ifyouweredescribingadog，you\'donlysaywhatcolourhishairwas。\'

\'Well，he\'salittleman。\'

\'Exactly，justasIshouldsaythatMrsUmblebyhadared-hairedlittledog。IwishIhadknowntheseScatcherds，uncle。Idoadmirepeoplethatcanpushthemselvesintheworld。IwishIhadknownSirRoger。\'

\'Youwillneverknowhim，Mary。\'

\'Isupposenot。Iamsosorryforhim。IsLadyScatcherdnice？\'

\'Sheisanexcellentwoman。\'

\'IhopeImayknowhersomeday。Youaresomuchtherenow，uncle；I

wonderwhetheryouevermentionmetothem。Ifyoudo，tellherfrommehowmuchIgrieveforher。\'

Thatsamenight，DrThorneagainfoundhimselfalonewithSirRoger。

Thesickmanwasmuchmoretranquil，andapparentlymoreateasethanhehadbeenontheprecedingnight。Hesaidnothingabouthiswill，andnotawordaboutMaryThorne；butthedoctorknewthatWinterbonesandanotary\'sclerkfromBarchesterhadbeeninthebedroomagreatpartoftheday；and，asheknewalsothatthegreatmanofbusinesswasaccustomedtodohismostimportantworkbythehandsofsuchtoolsasthese，hedidnotdoubtbutthatthewillhadbeenalteredandremodelled。Indeed，hethoughtitmorethanprobable，thatwhenitwasopeneditwouldbefoundtobewhollydifferentinitsprovisionsfromthatwhichSirRogerhadalreadydescribed。

\'Louisiscleverenough，\'hesaid，\'sharpenough，Imean。Hewon\'tsquandertheproperty。\'

\'Hehasgoodnaturalabilities，\'saidthedoctor。

\'Excellent，excellent，\'saidthefather。\'Hemaydowell，verywell，ifhecanonlybekeptfromthis；\'andSirRogerhelduptheemptywine-glasswhichstoodbyhisbedside。\'Whatalifehemayhavebeforehim！——andtothrowitawayforthis！\'andashespokehetooktheglassandtosseditacrosstheroom。\'Oh，doctor！wouldthatitwerealltobeginagain！\'

\'Weallwishthat，Idaresay，Scatcherd。\'

\'No，youdon\'twishit。Youain\'tworthashilling，andyetyouregretnothing。Iamworthhalfamillioninonewayoranother，andIregreteverything-everything——everything！\'

\'Youshouldnotthinkthatway，Scatcherd；youneednotthinkso。

YesterdayyoutoldMrClarkethatyouwerecomfortableinyourmind。\'

MrClarkewastheclergymanwhohadvisitedhim。

\'OfcourseIdid。WhatelsecouldIsaywhenheaskedme？Itwouldn\'thavebeenciviltohavetoldhimthathistimeandwordswereallthrownaway。But，Thorne，believeme，whenaman\'sheartissad——sad——sadtothecore，afewwordsfromaparsonatthelastmomentwillnevermakeitright。\'

\'MayHehavemercyonyou，myfriend！——ifyouwillthinkofHim，andlooktoHim，Hewillhavemercyonyou。\'

\'Well——Iwilltry，doctor；butwouldthatitwerealltodoagain。

You\'llseetotheoldwomanformysake，won\'tyou？\'

\'What，LadyScatcherd？\'

\'LadyDevil！Ifanythingangersmenowitisthat“ladyship“——hertobemylady！Why，whenIcameoutofjailthattime，thepoorcreaturehadhardlyashoetoherfoot。Butitwasn\'therfault，Thorne；itwasnoneofherdoing。Sheneveraskedforsuchnonsense。\'

\'Shehasbeenanexcellentwife，Scatcherd；andwhatismore，sheisanexcellentwoman。Sheis，andeverwillbe，oneofmydearestfriends。\'

\'Thank\'ee，doctor，thank\'ee。Yes；shehasbeenagoodwife——betterforapoormanthanarichone；butthen，thatwaswhatshewasbornto。

Youwon\'tletherbeknockedaboutbythem，willyou，Thorne？\'

DrThorneagainassuredhim，thataslongashelivedLadyScatcherdshouldneverwantonetruefriend；inmakingthispromise，however，hemanagedtodropallallusiontotheobnoxioustitle。

\'You\'llbewithhimasmuchaspossible，won\'tyou？\'againaskedthebaronet，afterlyingquitesilentforaquarterofanhour。

\'Withwhom？\'saidthedoctor，whowasthenallbutasleep。

\'Withmypoorboy，Louis。\'

\'Ifhewillletme，Iwill，\'saidthedoctor。

\'And，doctor，whenyouseeaglassathismouth，dashitdown；thrustitdown，thoughyouthrustouttheteethwithit。Whenyouseethat，Thorne，tellhimofhisfather——tellhimwhathisfathermighthavebeenbutforthat；tellhimhowhisfatherdiedlikeabeast，becausehecouldnotkeephimselffromdrink。\'

These，reader，werethelastwordsspokenbySirRogerScatcherd。Asheutteredthemheroseupinbedwiththesamevehemencewhichhehadshownontheformerevening。Butintheveryactofdoingsohewasagainstruckbyparalysis，andbeforenineonthefollowingmorningallwasover。

\'Oh，myman——myown，ownman！\'exclaimedthewidow，rememberingintheparoxysmofhergriefnothingbutthelovesoftheirearlydays；\'thebest，thebrightest，thecleverestofthemall！\'

SomeweeksafterthisSirRogerwasburied，withmuchpompandceremony，withintheprecinctsofBarchesterCathedral；andamonumentwasputuptohimsoonafter，inwhichhewasportrayed，assmoothingablockofgranitewithamalletandchisel；whilehiseagleeye，disdainingsuchhumblework，wasfixeduponsomeintricatemathematicalinstrumentabovehim。CouldSirRogerhaveseenithimself，hewouldprobablyhavedeclared，thatnoworkmanwaseverworthhissaltwholookedonewaywhileherowedanother。

Immediatelyafterthefuneralthewillwasopened，andDrThornediscoveredthattheclausesofitwereexactlyidenticalwiththosehisfriendhaddescribedtohimsomemonthsback。Nothinghadbeenaltered；norhadthedocumentbeenunfoldedsincethatstrangecodicilhadbeenadded，inwhichitwasdeclaredthatDrThorneknew——andonlyDrThorne——whowastheeldestchildofthetestator\'sonlysister。Atthesametime，however，ajointexecutorwithDrThornehadbeennamed——oneMrStock，amanofrailwayfame——andDrThornehimselfwasmadealegateetothehumbleextentofathousandpounds。AlifeincomeofathousandpoundsayearwaslefttoLadyScatcherd。