"Oh! never fear! I'll not spare your purse,--I know it's deep enough. I wish you'd give me a carte-blanche for all my patients, and all their wants."
But Mr. Thornton had no general benevolence,--no universal philanthropy; few even would have given him credit for strong affections. But he went straight to the first fruit-shop in Milton, and chose out the bunch of purple grapes with the most delicate bloom upon them,--the richest-coloured peaches,--the freshest vine-leaves. They were packed into a basket, and the shopman awaited the answer to his inquiry, "Where shall we send them to, sir?"
There was no reply. "To Marlborough Mills, I suppose, sir?"

'Oh! never fear! I know your purse is deep enough. I wish you'd give me carte-blanche for all my patients' wants.'
However, Mr. Thornton had no general benevolence. But he went straight to the best fruit-shop in Milton, and chose the most perfect bunch of purple grapes - the richest-coloured peaches - the freshest vine-leaves. They were packed into a basket.
'Where shall we send them to, sir?' the shopman asked. 'To Marlborough Mills?'
