Mrs. Johnson did not like Dr. Richards, and yet he became an almost
daily visitor at Riverside Cottage, where one face at least grew
brighter when he came, and one pair of eyes beamed on him a welcome. His
new code of morality worked admirably. Mr. Howard himself was not more
regular at church, or Alice more devout, than Dr. Richards. The
children, whom he had denominated "ragged brats," were no longer spurned
with contempt, but fed with peanuts and molasses candy. He was popular
with the children, but the parents, clear-sighted, treated him most
shabbily at his back, accusing him of caring only for Miss Alice's good
opinion.
This was what the poor said, and what many others thought. Even Anna,
who took everything for what it seemed, roused herself and more than
once remonstrated with her brother upon the course he was pursuing, if
he were not in earnest, as something he once said to her made her half
suspect.
She had become very intimate with Alice latterly, and as her health
improved with the coming of spring, almost every fine day found her at
Riverside Cottage, where once she and Mrs. Johnson stumbled upon a
confidential chat, having for its subject John and Alice, Anna said
nothing against her brother. She merely spoke of him as kind and
affectionate, but the quick-seeing mother detected more than the words
implied, and after that the elegant doctor was less welcome to her
fireside than, he had been before.
As the winter passed away and spring advanced, he showed no intentions
of leaving Snowdon, but on the contrary opened an office in the village,
greatly to the surprise of the inhabitants, who remembered his former
contempt for any one who could settle down in that dull town, and
greatly to the dismay of old Dr. Rogers, who for years had blistered and
bled the good people without a fear of rivalry.
"Does Dr. Richards intend locating permanently in Snowdon?" Mrs. Johnson
asked of her daughter as they sat alone one pleasant spring evening.
"His sign would indicate as much," was Alice's reply.
"Mother," she said gently, "you look pale and worried. You have looked
so for some time past. What is it, mother? Are you very sick, or are you
troubled about me?"
"Is there any reason why I should be troubled about my darling?" asked
the mother.
Alice never had any secrets from her mother, and she answered frankly:
"I don't know, unless--unless--mother, why don't you like Dr. Richards?"
The ice was fairly broken now, and very briefly but candidly Mrs.
Johnson told why she did not like him. He was handsome, refined,
educated, and agreeable, she admitted, but still there was something
lacking. The mask he was wearing had not deceived her, and she would
have liked him far better without it. This she said to Alice, adding
gently: "He may be all he seems, but I doubt it. I distrust him greatly.
I think he fancies you and loves your money."