If Emily's eyes could have followed Alban as her thoughts were following him,she would have seen him stop before he reached the end of the road in which the cottage stood.His heart was full of tenderness and sorrow:the longing to return to her was more than he could resist.It would be easy to wait,within view of the gate,until the doctor's visit came to an end.He had just decided to go back and keep watch--when he heard rapid footsteps approaching.There (devil take him!)was the doctor himself.
"I have something to say to you,Mr.Morris.Which way are you walking?""Any way,"Alban answered--not very graciously.
"Then let us take the turning that leads to my house.It's not customary for strangers,especially when they happen to be Englishmen,to place confidence in each other.Let me set the example of violating that rule.I want to speak to you about Miss Emily.May I take your arm?Thank you.At my age,girls in general--unless they are my patients--are not objects of interest to me.But that girl at the cottage--I daresay I am in my dotage--I tell you,sir,she has bewitched me!Upon my soul,Icould hardly be more anxious about her,if I was her father.And,mind,I am not an affectionate man by nature.Are you anxious about her too?""Yes."
"In what way?"
"In what way are you anxious,Doctor Allday?"The doctor smiled grimly.
"You don't trust me?Well,I have promised to set the example.
Keep your mask on,sir--mine is off,come what may of it.But,observe:if you repeat what I am going to say--"Alban would hear no more."Whatever you may say,Doctor Allday,is trusted to my honor.If you doubt my honor,be so good as to let go my arm--I am not walking your way."The doctor's hand tightened its grasp."That little flourish of temper,my dear sir,is all I want to set me at my ease.I feel Ihave got hold of the right man.Now answer me this.Have you ever heard of a person named Miss Jethro?"Alban suddenly came to a standstill.
"All right!"said the doctor."I couldn't have wished for a more satisfactory reply.""Wait a minute,"Alban interposed."I know Miss Jethro as a teacher at Miss Ladd's school,who left her situation suddenly--and I know no more."The doctor's peculiar smile made its appearance again.
"Speaking in the vulgar tone,"he said,"you seem to be in a hurry to wash your hands of Miss Jethro.""I have no reason to feel any interest in her,"Alban replied.
"Don't be too sure of that,my friend.I have something to tell you which may alter your opinion.That ex-teacher at the school,sir,knows how the late Mr.Brown met his death,and how his daughter has been deceived about it."Alban listened with surprise--and with some little doubt,which he thought it wise not to acknowledge.
"The report of the inquest alludes to a 'relative'who claimed the body,"he said."Was that 'relative'the person who deceived Miss Emily?And was the person her aunt?""I must leave you to take your own view,"Doctor Allday replied.
"A promise binds me not to repeat the information that I have received.Setting that aside,we have the same object in view--and we must take care not to get in each other's way.Here is my house.Let us go in,and make a clean breast of it on both sides."Established in the safe seclusion of his study,the doctor set the example of confession in these plain terms: