On the following day he would go over again to Boxall Hill, and would tell Scatcherd the whole truth.

Come what might, the truth must be the best.

And so, with some gleam of comfort, he went into the house, and found his niece in the drawing-room with Patience Oriel.
"Mary and I have been quarrelling," said Patience.

"She says the doctor is the greatest man in a village; and I say the parson is, of course." "I only say that the doctor is the most looked after," said Mary.
"There's another horrid message for you to go to Silverbridge, uncle.
Why can't that Dr Century manage his own people ?" "She says," continued Miss Oriel, "that if a parson was away for a month, no one would miss him; but that a doctor is so precious that his very minutes are counted." "I am sure uncle's are.

They begrudge him his meals.