for one, think that ladies are quite right in so thinking, that doctors
should be married men. All the world feels that a man when married
acquires some of the attributes of the old woman--he becomes, to a
certain extent, a motherly sort of being; he acquires a conversance
with women's ways and women's wants, and loses the wilder and offensive
sparks of his virility. It must be easier to talk to such a one about
Matilda's stomach, and the growing pains in Fanny's legs, than to a
young bachelor. This impediment also stood much in Dr Thorne's way
during his first years at Greshamsbury.

But his wants were not at first great; and though his ambition was
perhaps high, it was not of an impatient nature. The world was his
oyster; but, circumstanced as he was, he knew that it was not for him
to open it with his lancet all at once. He had bread to earn, which he
must earn wearily; he had a character to make, which must come slowly;
it satisfied his soul, that in addition to his immortal hopes, he had a
possible future in this world to which he could look forward with clear
eyes, and advance with his heart that would know no fainting.

On his first arrival at Greshamsbury he had been put by the squire into
a house, which he still occupied when that squire's grandson came of
age. There were two decent, commodious, private houses in the
village--always excepting the rectory, which stood grandly in its own
grounds, and, therefore, was considered as ranking above the village
residences--of these two Dr Thorne had the smaller. They stood exactly
at the angle before described, on the outer side of it, and at right
angles to each other. They possessed good stables and ample gardens;
and it may be as well to specify, that Mr Umbleby, the agent and lawyer
to the estate, occupied the larger one.