mfort her.

He had had a worrying day among his poor patients, the one bright spot
had been his visit to the Models, when Jack Travers had sobbed and
broken down in the attempt to speak his gratitude. And now just as
they were getting on so well, Olivia's want of tact and that terribly
honest tongue of hers had spoilt everything. Was it likely--was it
within the bounds of possibility--that a man of the world--a rich man
too--would be content with the services of an unknown practitioner? If
he put himself in Mr. Gaythorne's place, he knew that he should be
disposed to request Dr. Bevan to call. It was not only a sprained
ankle. Mr. Gaythorne was an ailing man, and needed medical care.
Marcus, who was clever and quick-witted, had already formed a pretty
correct diagnosis of the case. "There is mental as well as physical
trouble," he had said to himself the previous evening, and with
professional reticence he had kept this opinion to himself, but he was
already deeply interested in his patient. So much was at stake, and
their fortunes were at so low an ebb, that Marcus might be pardoned for
his unusual touchiness. Yet when he left the room without further
remark, Olivia's heart sank within her.

"Why could I not have held my tongue," she thought, with tardy
repentance. "What could have induced me to talk so much, but Mr.
Gaythorne really seemed interested, and somehow he encouraged me to go
on. If he had appeared bored or tired I should have stopped at once,
but he seemed so curious about Aunt Madge, he even asked if she had a
good doctor. Oh, dear, surely that is not Marcus going out!" as the
street door opened; and now there were actual tears in Olivia's eyes.

In all the two years of their happy married life they had never had
more than a momentary misunderstanding. If a hasty word had been
uttered by one of them, the other had always an eager protest or a
smooth answer ready. When Olivia had been impatient and captious,
Marcus had only laughed and coaxed her into good humour again. And
even when he had indulged in a few sarcastic speeches, Olivia's soft
voice and ready acquiescence had avoided friction.

Marcus often told her that they were a model couple, and had earned the
Dunmow Flitch over and over again, but in reality their mutual respect
and thorough understanding of each other's salient points had conduced
to this harmony.

That Marcus should leave the house therefore without speaking to her