"I don't at all follow you," he said, rather sharply; "you are looking a little too far into the future." "Then we will return to the present," Mrs.Gallilee replied--still with the readiest submission to the humour of her son.
On recent occasions, she had expressed the opinion that Ovid would do wisely--at his age, and with his professional prospects--to wait a few years before he thought of marrying.

Having said enough in praise of her niece to satisfy him for the time being (without appearing to be meanly influenced, in modifying her opinion, by the question of money), her next object was to induce him to leave England immediately, for the recovery of his health.

With Ovid absent, and with Carmina under her sole superintendence, Mrs.Gallilee could see her way to her own private ends.
"Really," she resumed, "you ought to think seriously of change of air and scene.

You know you would not allow a patient, in your present state of health, to trifle with himself as your are trifling now.

If you don't like the sea, try the Continent.