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〃Speak for yourself； James；〃 said the London man with a sniff。 〃But
apart from that； you know that the principle of the thing is all wrong。〃
〃You think there is nothing to be said on the other side？〃
〃Good heavens！ do you？〃
〃Well； I don't know。 It struck me during the night that we may have
been a little narrow in our views。〃
〃Nonsense； James。 It's all very fine for women to win prizes in the
lecture room； but you know as well as I do that they are no use in an
emergency。 Now I warrant that this woman was all nerves when she was
setting your leg。 That reminds me that I had better just take a look at it
and see that it is all right。〃
〃I would rather that you did not undo it；〃 said the patient。 〃I have her
assurance that it is all right。〃
Brother William was deeply shocked。
〃Of course； if a woman's assurance is of more value than the opinion
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of the assistant surgeon of a London hospital； there is nothing more to be
said；〃 he remarked。
〃I should prefer that you did not touch it；〃 said the patient firmly； and
Dr。 William went back to London that evening in a huff。
The lady； who had heard of his coming； was much surprised on
learning his departure。
〃We had a difference upon a point of professional etiquette；〃 said Dr。
James； and it was all the explanation he would vouchsafe。
For two long months Dr。 Ripley was brought in contact with his rival
every day； and he learned many things which he had not known before。
She was a charming companion； as well as a most assiduous doctor。 Her
short presence during the long； weary day was like a flower in a sand
waste。 What interested him was precisely what interested her； and she
could meet him at every point upon equal terms。 And yet under all her
learning and her firmness ran a sweet； womanly nature； peeping out in her
talk； shining in her greenish eyes； showing itself in a thousand subtle ways
which the dullest of men could read。 And he； though a bit of a prig and a
pedant； was by no means dull； and had honesty enough to confess when he
was in the wrong。
〃I don't know how to apologise to you；〃 he said in his shame…faced
fashion one day； when he had progressed so far as to be able to sit in an
arm… chair with his leg upon another one； 〃I feel that I have been quite in
the wrong。〃
〃Why； then？〃
〃Over this woman question。 I used to think that a woman must
inevitably lose something of her charm if she took up such studies。〃
〃Oh； you don't think they are necessarily unsexed； then？〃 she cried；
with a mischievous smile。
〃Please don't recall my idiotic expression。〃
〃I feel so pleased that I should have helped in changing your views。 I
think that it is the most sincere compliment that I have ever had paid me。〃
〃At any rate； it is the truth；〃 said he； and was happy all night at the
remembrance of the flush of pleasure which made her pale face look quite
comely for the instant。
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For； indeed； he was already far past the stage when he would
acknowledge her as the equal of any other woman。 Already he could not
disguise from himself that she had become the one woman。 Her dainty
skill； her gentle touch； her sweet presence； the community of their tastes；
had all united to hopelessly upset his previous opinions。 It was a dark
day for him now when his convalescence allowed her to miss a visit； and
darker still that other one which he saw approaching when all occasion for
her visits would be at an end。 It came round at last； however； and he felt
that his whole life's fortune would hang upon the issue of that final
interview。 He was a direct man by nature； so he laid his hand upon hers
as it felt for his pulse； and he asked her if she would be his wife。
〃What； and unite the practices？〃 said she。
He started in pain and anger。
〃Surely you do not attribute any such base motive to me！〃 he cried。
〃I love you as unselfishly as ever a woman was loved。〃
〃No； I was wrong。 It was a foolish speech；〃 said she； moving her
chair a little back； and tapping her stethoscope upon her knee。 〃Forget
that I ever said it。 I am so sorry to cause you any disappointment； and I
appreciate most highly the honour which you do me； but what you ask is
quite impossible。〃
With another woman he might have urged the point； but his instincts
told him that it was quite useless with this one。 Her tone of voice was
conclusive。 He said nothing； but leaned back in his chair a stricken man。
〃I am so sorry；〃 she said again。 〃If I had known what was passing in
your mind I should have told you earlier that I intended to devote my life
entirely to science。 There are many women with a capacity for marriage；
but few with a taste for biology。 I will remain true to my own line； then。
I came down here while waiting for an opening in the Paris Physiological
Laboratory。 I have just heard that there is a vacancy for me there； and so
you will be troubled no more by my intrusion upon your practice。 I have
done you an injustice just as you did me one。 I thought you narrow and
pedantic； with no good quality。 I have learned during your illness to
appreciate you better； and the recollection of our friendship will always be
a very pleasant one to me。〃
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And so it came about that in a very few weeks there was only one
doctor in Hoyland。 But folks noticed that the one had aged many years
in a few months； that a weary sadness lurked always in the depths of his
blue eyes； and that he was less concerned than ever with the eligible young
ladies whom chance； or their careful country mammas； placed in his way。
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THE SURGEON TALKS。
〃Men die of the diseases which they have studied most；〃 remarked
the surgeo