by Henry James
XIII
IT may be thought the Doctor was too positive, and Mrs. Almond intimatedas much. But, as he said, he had his impression it seemed to himsufficient, and he had no wish to modify it. He had passed his life inestimating people (it was part of the medical trade), and in nineteencases out of twenty he was right.
“Perhaps Mr. Townsend is the twentieth case,” Mrs. Almond suggested.
“Perhaps he is, though he doesn’t look to me at all like a twentiethcase. But I will give him the benefit of the doubt, and, to make sure, Iwill go and talk with Mrs. Montgomery. She will almost certainly tell meI have done right; but it is just possible that she will prove to me thatI have made the greatest mistake of my life. If she does, I will beg Mr.Townsend’s pardon. You needn’t invite her to meet me, as you kindlyproposed; I will write her a frank letter, telling her how matters stand,and asking leave to come and see her.”
“I am afraid the frankness will be chiefly on your side. The poor littlewoman will stand up for her brother, whatever he may be.”
“Whatever he may be? I doubt that. People are not always so fond oftheir brothers.”
“Ah,” said Mrs. Almond, “when it’s a question of thirty thousand a yearcoming into a family—”
“If she stands up for him on account of the money, she will be a humbug.If she is a humbug I shall see it. If I see it, I won’t waste time withher.”
“She is not a humbug—she is an exemplary woman. She will not wish toplay her brother a trick simply because he is selfish.”
“If she is worth talking to, she will sooner play him a trick than thathe should play Catherine one. Has she seen Catherine, by the way—doesshe know her?”
“Not to my knowledge. Mr. Townsend can have had no particular interestin bringing them together.”
“If she is an exemplary woman, no. But we shall see to what extent sheanswers your description.”
“I shall be curious to hear her description of you!” said Mrs. Almond,with a laugh. “And, meanwhile, how is Catherine taking it?”
“As she takes everything—as a matter of course.”
“Doesn’t she make a noise? Hasn’t she made a scene?”
“She is not scenic.”
“I thought a love-lorn maiden was always scenic.”
“A fantastic widow is more so. Lavinia has made me a speech; she thinksme very arbitrary.”
“She has a talent for being in the wrong,” said Mrs. Almond. “But I amvery sorry for Catherine, all the same.”
“So am I. But she will get over it.”
“You believe she will give him up?”
“I count upon it. She has such an admiration for her father.”
“Oh, we know all about that! But it only makes me pity her the more. Itmakes her dilemma the more painful, and the effort of choosing betweenyou and her lover almost impossible.”
“If she can’t choose, all the better.”
“Yes, but he will stand there entreating her to choose, and Lavinia willpull on that side.”
“I am glad she is not on my side; she is capable of ruining an excellentcause. The day Lavinia gets into your boat it capsizes. But she hadbetter be careful,” said the Doctor. “I will have no treason in myhouse!”
“I suspect she will be careful; for she is at bottom very much afraid ofyou.”
“They are both afraid of me—harmless as I am!” the Doctor answered. “Andit is on that that I build—on the salutary terror I inspire!”