and she felt, somehow, that he delicately refrained from any leading or
prompting comment.

"She has been urging me to have a consultation with some doctor about her
case, and I--it would be ridiculous!"

"Then I would n't do it!" said Mr. Libby. "You know a great deal better
what she wants than she does. You had better make her, do what you say."

"I didn't mean to burden you with my affairs," said Grace, "but I wished
to explain her motive in speaking to you as she did." After she had said
this, it seemed to her rather weak, and she could not think of anything
else that would strengthen it. The young man might think that she had
asked advice of him. She began to resent his telling her to make Mrs.
Maynard do what she said. She was about to add something to snub him,
when she recollected that it was her own wilfulness which had
precipitated the present situation, and she humbled herself.

"She will probably change her mind," said Libby. "She would if you could
let her carry her point," he added, with a light esteem for Mrs. Maynard
which set him wrong again in Grace's eyes: he had no business to speak so
to her.

"Very likely," she said, in stiff withdrawal from all terms of confidence
concerning Mrs. Maynard. She did not add anything more, and she meant
that the young fellow should perceive that his, audience was at an end.
He did not apparently resent it, but she fancied him hurt in his
acquiescence.

She went back to her patient, whom she found languid and disposed to