What Will He Do with It? — Complete

CHAPTER XIX.

   Very well so far as it goes.

MR. HARTOPP.—“I cannot presume to question you further, Mr. Chapman. But to one of your knowledge of the world, I need not say that your silence deprives me of the power to assist yourself. We’ll talk no more of that.”

WAIFE.—“Thank you, gratefully, Mr. Mayor.”

MR. HARTOPP.—“But for the little girl, make your mind easy,—at least for the present. I will place her at my farm cottage. My bailiff’s wife, a kind woman, will take care of her, while you pursue your calling elsewhere. As for this money, you will want it yourself; your poor little child shall cost you nothing. So that’s settled. Let me come up and see her. I am a bit of a doctor myself. Every man blest with a large family, in whose house there is always some interesting case of small-pox, measles, whooping-cough, scarlatina, etc., has a good private practice of his own. I’m not brilliant in book-learning, Mr. Chapman. But as to children’s complaints in a practical way,” added Hartopp, with a glow of pride, “Mrs. H. says she’d rather trust the little ones to me than to Dr. Gill. I’ll see your child, and set her up I’ll be bound. But now I think of it,” continued Hartopp, softening more and more, “if exhibit you must, why not stay at Gatesboro’ for a time? More may be made in this town than elsewhere.”

“No, no; I could not have the heart to act here again without her. I feel at present as if I can never again act at all!”

“Something else will turn up. Providence is so kind to me, Mr. Mayor.”

Waife turned to the door. “You will come soon?” he said anxiously.

The Mayor, who had been locking up his ledgers and papers, replied, “I will but stay to give some orders; in a quarter of an hour I shall be at your hotel.”