Edward Phillips Oppenheim

“ Dominey repeated, a little taken aback.
"Fidelity," the doctor grunted, "is second nature with all good women. Lady Dominey is a good woman, and she is no exception to the rule. Her brain is starved because her heart is aching for love. If she could believe in your repentance and reform, if any atonement for the past were possible and were generously offered, I cannot tell what the result might be. They tell me that you are a rich man now, although heaven knows, when one considers what a lazy, selfish fellow you were, that sounds like a miracle. ”

“ The doctor repeated the word, seemed to roll it round in his mouth with a sort of wondering scorn.
"I am not quite the idler I used to be," Dominey explained, frowning. "Nowadays, you cannot make money without assuming responsibilities. I am clearing off the whole of the mortgages upon the Dominey estates within the next few months."
"How you spend your time is your affair, not mine," the doctor muttered. "All I say about the matter is that your wife's cure, if ever it comes to pass, is in your hands. ”

“ Dominey continued. "Still attracted by your old pastime, I see, Doctor?"
"I have only taken up fly fishing," the other replied drily, "since I gave up shooting."
There was another somewhat awkward pause, which the younger man endeavoured to bridge over.
"Fishing, shooting, golf," he said; "I really don't know what we poor medical practitioners would do in the country without sport."
"I shall remind you of that later," Dominey observed. "I am told that the shooting is one of the only glories that has not passed away from Dominey." ”