As the days passed, however, and the news came to be
no better, but rather worse, something besides anxiety began to
show in the man's face: despair, and a very dogged
determination, each fighting for the mastery. In the end, the
dogged determination won; and it was then that Mr. John
Pendleton, somewhat to his surprise, received one Saturday
morning a call from Dr. Thomas Chilton.
"Pendleton," began the doctor, abruptly, "I've come to you
because you, better than any one else in town, know something of
my relations with Miss Polly Harrington."
John Pendleton was conscious that he must have started
visibly--he did know something of the affair between Polly
Harrington and Thomas Chilton, but the matter had not been
mentioned between them for fifteen years, or more.
"Yes," he said, trying to make his voice sound concerned enough
for sympathy, and not eager enough for curiosity. In a moment he
saw that he need not have worried, however: the doctor was quite
too intent on his errand to notice how that errand was received.
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