He would put on pressure to get
away poor Alan's illegitimate child from that dreadful woman.
Next day he called. Dolly was dangerously ill,--so ill that
Herminia couldn't find it in her heart to dismiss the great doctor
from her door without letting him see her. And Sir Anthony saw
her. The child recognized him at once and rallied, and smiled at
him. She stretched her little arms. She must surely get well if a
gentleman who drove in so fine a carriage, and scattered sovereigns
like ha'pennies, came in to prescribe for her. Sir Anthony was
flattered at her friendly reception. Those thin small arms touched
the grandfather's heart. "She will recover," he said; "but she
needs good treatment, delicacies, refinements." Then he slipped
out of the room, and spoke seriously to Herminia. "Let her come to
me," he urged. "I'll adopt her, and give her her father's name.
It will be better for herself; better for her future. She shall be
treated as my granddaughter, well-taught, well-kept; and you may
see her every six months for a fortnight's visit.
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