What might be the consequences of any other system, Dr.Jones would not say, because he was too high-minded to express his distrust of the rival who had made use of underhand arts to supplant him.

But Mr.Vigors was convinced, from other sources of information (meaning, I presume, the oracular prescience of his clairvoyants), that the time would come when the poor young lady would herself insist on discarding Dr.Fenwick, and when "that person" would appear in a very different light to many who now so fondly admired and so reverentially trusted him.

When that time arrived, he, Mr.Vigors, might again be of use; but, meanwhile, though he declined to renew his intimacy at Abbots' House, or to pay unavailing visits of mere ceremony, his interest in the daughter of his old friend remained undiminished, nay, was rather increased by compassion; that he should silently keep his eye upon her; and whenever anything to her advantage suggested itself to him, he should not be deterred by the slight with which Mrs.Ashleigh had treated his judgment from calling on her, and placing before her conscience as a mother his ideas for her child's benefit, leaving to herself then, as now, the entire responsibility of rejecting the advice which he might say, without vanity, was deemed of some value by those who could distinguish between sterling qualities and specious pretences.
Mrs.Ashleigh's was that thoroughly womanly nature which instinctively leans upon others.

She was diffident, trustful, meek, affectionate.

Not quite justly had Mrs.Poyntz described her as "commonplace weak," for though she might be called weak, it was not because she was commonplace; she had a goodness of heart, a sweetness of disposition, to which that disparaging definition could not apply.