Ethel wondered if he forgot how much of the unserviceableness of his
maimed arm had once been attributed to Mr. Ward's dulness, or how
many times he had come home boiling with annoyance at having been
called in too late to remedy the respectable apothecary's half
measures. She believed that the son had been much better educated
than the father, and after the fearful lesson he had received,
thought he might realize Dr. May's hopes, and appreciate his
kindness. They discussed the relations.

'Ward came as assistant to old Axworthy, and married his daughter; he
had no relations that his son knows of, except the old aunt who left
Averil her £2000.'

'There are some Axworthys still,' said Ethel, 'but not very
creditable people.'

'You may say that,' said Dr. May emphatically. 'There was a
scapegrace brother that ran away, and was heard of no more till he
turned up, a wealthy man, ten or fifteen years ago, and bought what
they call the Vintry Mill, some way on this side of Whitford. He has
a business on a large scale; but Ward had as little intercourse with
him as possible. A terrible old heathen.'

'And the boy that was expelled for bullying Tom is in the business.'

'I hate the thought of that,' said the Doctor. 'If he had stayed on,
who knows but he might have turned out as well as Ned Anderson.'

'Has not he?'