"His being your son--the son
of one whom I have seen--as I have seen you, Mrs. Denbigh (out
and out the best nurse I ever met with, Miss Benson; and good
nurses are things we doctors know how to value)--his being your
son is his great recommendation to me; not but what the lad
himself is a noble boy. I shall be glad to leave him with you as
long and as much as we can; he could not be tied to your
apron-strings all his life, you know. Only I provide for his
education, subject to your consent and good pleasure, and he is
bound apprentice to me. I, his guardian, bind him to myself, the
first surgeon in Eccleston, be the other who he may; and in
process of time he becomes partner, and some day or other
succeeds me. Now, Mrs. Denbigh, what have you got to say against
this plan? My wife is just as full of it as me. Come; begin with
your objections. You're not a woman if you have not a whole
bag-full of them ready to turn out against any reasonable
proposal."
"I don't know," faltered Ruth. "It is so sudden----"
"It is very, very kind of you, Mr. Davis," said Miss Benson, a
little scandalised at Ruth's non-expression of gratitude.
"Pooh! pooh! I'll answer for it, in the long-run, I am taking
good care of my own interests. Come, Mrs. Denbigh, is it a
bargain?"
Now Mr. Benson spoke.
"Mr. Davis, it is rather sudden, as she says. As far as I can
see, it is the best as well as the kindest proposal that could
have been made; but I think we must give her a little time to
think about it.
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