She was fearfully anxious as to his life, and faithfully believed, that if any man could prolong it, it was that old and faithful friend whom she had known to be true to her lord since their early married troubles.
When, therefore, she found that he had been dismissed, and that a stranger was to be sent for in his place, her heart sank low within her.
"But, doctor," she said, with her apron up to her eyes, "you ain't going to leave him, are you ?" Dr Thorne did not find it easy to explain to her ladyship that medical etiquette would not permit him to remain in attendance on her husband after he had been dismissed and another physician called in his place.
"Etiquette!" said she, crying.

"What's etiquette to do with it when a man is a-killing hisself with brandy ?" "Fillgrave will forbid that quite as strongly as I can do." "Fillgrave!" said she.

"Fiddlesticks! Fillgrave, indeed!" Dr Thorne could almost have embraced her for the strong feeling of thorough confidence on the one side, and thorough distrust on the other, which she contrived to throw into those few words.
"I'll tell you what, doctor; I won't let the messenger go.

I'll bear the brunt of it.

He can't do much now he ain't up, you know.