'Let me see, he is just of Harry's age,' said Ethel, thoughtfully, as
if she had not the strongest faith in Harry's power of supplying a
parent's place.

'Well,' said her father, 'remember, a medical student is an older man
than a lieutenant in the navy. One sees as much of the interior as
the other does of the surface. We must take this young Ward by the
hand, and mind he does not lose his father's practice. Burdon, that
young prig that Spencer got down from London, met me at Gavin's, when
I looked in there on my way home, and came the length of Minster
Street with me, asking what I thought of an opening for a medical
man--partnership with young Ward, &c. I snubbed him so short, that I
fancy I left him thinking whether his nose was on or off his face.'

'He was rather premature.'

'I've settled him any way. I shall do my best to keep the town clear
for that lad; there's not much more for him, as things are now, and
it will be only looking close after him for a few years, which
Spencer and I can very well manage.'

'If he will let you.'

'There! that's the spitefulness of women! Must you be casting up
that little natural spirit of independence against him after the
lesson he has had? I tell you, he has been promising me to look on
me as a father! Poor old Ward! he was a good friend and fellow-
worker. I owe a great deal to him.'