"
"Does it?" she said indifferently. "Well?"
"There is an opening for a physician at that winter place for
invalids on the Mediterranean," said Graham, explaining, "and
I have the offer of it; it would suit me very well, for the
next year or two at any rate, and would enable us to marry at
once; but my doubt, Maria, is, whether you would not object to
leaving England."
"I don't see what that has to do with it," answered Maria,
shortly and coldly. "Of course you will do what you think
best."
"What I might think best in the abstract, Maria, is not the
point; what I want to ascertain are your wishes in the
matter."
"I should have thought you might have known already," she
replied; "you are very well aware that, for years, it has been
my wish that you should have this partnership with Dr.
Vavasour."
"I am aware of it," he said, and paused. "Listen to me,
Maria," he continued in a moment, "let me put the case fairly
before you. If I accept Dr. Vavasour's offer, it closes, so to
speak, my career. I shall be bound down to this country
practice for life probably, for years at any rate, since,
after making the arrangement, I could not feel justified in
altering it again during Dr.
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