By and by she asked me in a low voice if I were sure to be alone, or if I expected any visitors; and when I had assured her decidedly that no one but Uncle Max ever came to see me, and that I knew he was engaged this evening, her last scruple seemed to vanish, and she settled herself quite comfortably for a chat.

We talked for a little while on indifferent subjects.

She told me about the neighbourhood and the people who lived in the large houses by the church, and about her brother's work in the parish, and how if rich people sent for him he always kept them waiting while he went to the poor ones.
'Giles calls himself the poor people's doctor: he attends them for nothing.

He cannot always refuse rich people if they will have him, but he generally sends them to Dr.Ramsbotham.You see, he never takes money for his services, and as people know this, they are ashamed to send for him; and yet they want him because he is so clever.

Giles is so fond of his profession; he is always regretting that he had a fortune left him, for he says it would have been far pleasanter to make one.