"I don't see what difference her being my only daughter makes.It is better to accuse one than a dozen.But I don't accuse anyone.There is not the smallest hypocrisy about Catherine, and I deny that she even pretends to be miserable."The doctor's idea that the thing was a "blind" had its intermissions and revivals; but it may be said, on the whole, to have increased as he grew older; together with his impressions of Catherine's blooming and comfortable condition.Naturally, if he had not found grounds for viewing her as a lovelorn maiden during the year or two that followed her great trouble, he found none at a time when she had completely recovered her self-possession.He was obliged to recognize the fact that, if the two young people were waiting for him to get out of the way, they were at least waiting very patiently.He had heard from time to time that Morris was in New York;but he never remained there long, and, to the best of the doctor's belief, had no communication with Catherine.He was sure they never met, and he had reason to suspect that Morris never wrote to her.