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〃But you know so little of her。 The Esdailes themselves know so
little。 She is really only an acquaintance； although she is staying at The
Lindens。 Would it not be wise to speak to Mrs。 Esdaile first； John？〃
〃I do not think； Ada； that Mrs。 Esdaile is at all likely to say anything
which would materially affect my course of action。 I have given the
matter due consideration。 The scientific mind is slow at arriving at
conclusions； but having once formed them； it is not prone to change。
Matrimony is the natural condition of the human race。 I have； as you
know； been so engaged in academical and other work； that I have had no
time to devote to merely personal questions。 It is different now； and I see
no valid reason why I should forego this opportunity of seeking a suitable
helpmate。〃
〃And you are engaged？〃
〃Hardly that； Ada。 I ventured yesterday to indicate to the lady that I
was prepared to submit to the common lot of humanity。 I shall wait upon
her after my morning lecture； and learn how far my proposals meet with
her acquiescence。 But you frown； Ada！〃
His sister started； and made an effort to conceal her expression of
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annoyance。 She even stammered out some few words of congratulation；
but a vacant look had come into her brother's eyes； and he was evidently
not listening to her。
〃I am sure； John； that I wish you the happiness which you deserve。 If
I hesitated at all； it is because I know how much is at stake； and because
the thing is so sudden； so unexpected。〃 Her thin white hand stole up to
the black cross upon her bosom。 〃These are moments when we need
guidance； John。 If I could persuade you to turn to spiritual〃
The Professor waved the suggestion away with a deprecating hand。
〃It is useless to reopen that question；〃 he said。 〃We cannot argue
upon it。 You assume more than I can grant。 I am forced to dispute your
premises。 We have no common basis。〃
His sister sighed。
〃You have no faith；〃 she said。
〃I have faith in those great evolutionary forces which are leading the
human race to some unknown but elevated goal。〃
〃You believe in nothing。〃
〃On the contrary； my dear Ada； I believe in the differentiation of
protoplasm。〃
She shook her head sadly。 It was the one subject upon which she
ventured to dispute her brother's infallibility。
〃This is rather beside the question；〃 remarked the Professor； folding up
his napkin。 〃If I am not mistaken； there is some possibility of another
matrimonial event occurring in the family。 Eh； Ada？ What！〃
His small eyes glittered with sly facetiousness as he shot a twinkle at
his sister。 She sat very stiff； and traced patterns upon the cloth with the
sugar…tongs。
〃Dr。 James M‘Murdo O'Brien〃 said the Professor； sonorously。
〃Don't； John； don't！〃 cried Miss Ainslie Grey。
〃Dr。 James M‘Murdo O'Brien；〃 continued her brother inexorably； 〃is a
man who has already made his mark upon the science of the day。 He is
my first and my most distinguished pupil。 I assure you； Ada； that his
‘Remarks upon the Bile…Pigments； with special reference to Urobilin；' is
likely to live as a classic。 It is not too much to say that he has
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revolutionised our views about urobilin。〃
He paused； but his sister sat silent； with bent head and flushed cheeks。
The little ebony cross rose and fell with her hurried breathings。
〃Dr。 James M‘Murdo O'Brien has； as you know； the offer of the
physiological chair at Melbourne。 He has been in Australia five years；
and has a brilliant future before him。 To…day he leaves us for Edinburgh；
and in two months' time； he goes out to take over his new duties。 You
know his feeling towards you。 It； rests with you as to whether he goes
out alone。 Speaking for myself； I cannot imagine any higher mission for
a woman of culture than to go through life in the company of a man who is
capable of such a research as that which Dr。 James M‘Murdo O'Brien has
brought to a successful conclusion。〃
〃He has not spoken to me；〃 murmured the lady。
〃Ah； there are signs which are more subtle than speech；〃 said her
brother； wagging his head。 〃But you are pale。 Your vasomotor system
is excited。 Your arterioles have contracted。 Let me entreat you to
compose yourself。 I think I hear the carriage。 I fancy that you may
have a visitor this morning； Ada。 You will excuse me now。〃
With a quick glance at the clock he strode off into the hall； and within
a few minutes he was rattling in his quiet； well…appointed brougham
through the brick…lined streets of Birchespool。
His lecture over； Professor Ainslie Grey paid a visit to his laboratory；
where he adjusted several scientific instruments； made a note as to the
progress of three separate infusions of bacteria； cut half…a…dozen sections
with a microtome； and finally resolved the difficulties of seven different
gentlemen； who were pursuing researches in as many separate lines of
inquiry。 Having thus conscientiously and methodically completed the
routine of his duties； he returned to his carriage and ordered the coachman
to drive him to The Lindens。 His face as he drove was cold and
impassive； but he drew his fingers from time to time down his prominent
chin with a jerky； twitchy movement。
The Lindens was an old…fashioned； ivy…clad house which had once
been in the country； but was now caught in the long； red…brick feelers of
the growing city。 It still stood back from the road in the privacy of its
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own grounds。 A winding path； lined with laurel bushes； led to the arched
and porticoed entrance。 To the right was a lawn； and at the far side；
under the shadow of a hawthorn； a lady sat in a garden…chair with a book
in her hands。 At the click of the gate she started； and the Professor；
catching sight of her； turned away from the door； and strode in her
direction。
〃What！ won't you go in and see Mrs。 Esdaile？〃 she asked； sweeping
out from under the shadow of the hawthorn。
She was a small woman； strongly feminine； from the rich coils of her
light…coloured hair to the dainty garden slipper which peeped from under
her cream…tinted dress。 One tiny well…gloved hand was outstretched in
greeting； while the other pressed a thick； green…covered volume against
her side。 Her decision and quick； tactful manner bespoke the mature
woman of the world； but her upraised face had preserved a girlish and
even infantile expression of innocence in its large； fearless； grey eyes； and
sensitive； humorous mouth。 Mrs。 O'James was a widow； and she was
two…and…thirty years of age； but neither fact could have been deduced from
her appearance。
〃You will surely go in and see Mrs。 Esdaile；〃 she repeated； glancing up
at him with eyes which had in them something between a challenge and a
caress。
〃I did not come to see Mrs。 Esdaile；〃 he answered； with no relaxation
of his cold and grave manner； 〃I came to see you。〃
〃I am sure I should be highly honoured；〃 she said； with just the
slightest little touch of brogue in her accent。 〃What are the students to do
without their Professor？〃
〃I have already completed my academic duties。 Take my arm； and
we shall walk in the sunshine。 Surely we cannot wonder that Eastern
people should have made a deity of the sun。 It is the great beneficent
force of Natureman's ally against cold； sterility； and all that is