The Star-Gazers Part 52

About an hour later Oldroyd called; and, as the bell jangled at the gate and Eliza went slowly down, Lucy's face turned crimson, and she ran to the window and listened, to hear the enquiry,--"Is your mistress in?"

That was enough. The whole scene of that particular morning walk came back with a repet.i.tion of the agony of mind. She saw Rolph in his ludicrous undress, striding along the sandy road; she heard again his maundering civilities, and she saw, too, the figure of Oldroyd seated upon the miller's pony, pa.s.sing them, and afterwards blocking the way.

It was he, now, seated upon the same pony; and, without waiting to hear Eliza's answer, Lucy fled to her bedroom and locked herself in, to begin sobbing and crying in the most ridiculous manner.

"No, sir," said Eliza, with a bob; "she've gone to town shopping, but Miss Lucy's in the drawing-room."

Eliza smiled to herself as she said this, giving herself the credit of having managed a splendid little bit of diplomacy, for, according to her code, young gents ought to have opportunities to talk to young ladies whenever there was a chance. She was, however, terribly taken aback by the young doctor's words.

"Thank you, yes, but I don't want to see her,"--words which, had she heard them, would have made Lucy's sobs come more quickly. "Is Mr Alleyne in?"

"Yes, sir, he's in the observatory."

"I'll come in then," said Oldroyd; and he dismounted, and threw the rein over the ring hook in the yard wall.

"If you please, sir," said the maid, who did not like to lose an opportunity now that a medical man was in the house, "I don't think I'm very well."

"Eh, not well?" said Oldroyd, pausing in the hall, "why you appear as rosy and bonny as a girl can look."

"Thankye, sir," said the girl, with a bob; "but I'm dreadful poorly, all the same."

"Why, what's the matter?"

For answer Eliza put her hands behind her, and seemed as if she were indulging in the school-girl trick of what is called "making a face" at the doctor, for she closed her eyes, opened her mouth, wrinkled her brow, and put out a very long red tongue, which quivered and curled up at the point.

"That'll do," said Oldroyd, hiding a smile; and the tongue shot back, Eliza's eyes opened, her mouth closed, and the wrinkles disappeared from her face.

"Will that do, sir?"

"Yes; your tongue's beautifully healthy, your eyes are bright, and your skin moist and cool. Why, what's the matter?"

"Please sir, I'm quite well of a night," said Eliza, with another bob, "but I do have such dreadful dreams."

"Oh!" said Oldroyd, drawing in a long breath, "I see. Did you have a bad dream last night?"

"Oh yes, sir, please. I dreamed as a poacher were going to murder me, and I couldn't run away."

"Let me see; you had supper last night at half-past nine, did you not?"

"Yes, sir."

"Bread and Dutch cheese?"

"Yes, sir."

"Ah, you want a little medicine," said Oldroyd quietly. "I'll send you some."

"And please, sir, how am I to take it?"

"Oh, you'll find that on the bottle, and mind this: you are not to eat any more cheese for supper, but you may have as much b.u.t.ter as you like, and stale bread."

"Thank you, sir. Will you go in, sir?"

"Yes, I'll go up," said Oldroyd, and then to himself, "What humbugs we doctors are; but we are obliged to be. If I told the girl only to leave off eating cheese she would think she was ill-used, and as likely as not she would get a holiday on purpose to go over to the town and see another man."

He tapped sharply on the door with the handle of his whip, and in response to the loud "Come in," entered, to find Alleyne standing amongst his instruments.

"Ah, Oldroyd," he said, holding out his hand, which the other took, "glad to see you."

"And I'm glad to see you--looking so much better," said Oldroyd. "Why, man, your brain has been working in a new direction; your eyes don't look so dreamy, and the balance is getting right. Come, confess, don't you feel more energetic than you did?"

"Ten times," said Alleyne frankly.

"Then you'll end by being a firm believer in my system--cure without drugs, eh?"

"Indeed I shall," said Alleyne, smiling.

"And to show how consistent I am," said Oldroyd, "I've just promised to send your maid a bottle of medicine. But come, sir, I'm just off among the hills to see a patient. It's a lovely day; only about six miles.

Come with me, and I'll leave the pony and walk."

Alleyne shook his head.

"No," he said, "I should be very poor company for you, Oldroyd--yes, I will go," he cried, recollecting himself. "Wait a minute and I'll be back."

"All right," replied the doctor, who amused himself peeping among the various gla.s.ses till Alleyne came back in a closely-fitting shooting jacket, for which he had changed the long, loose dressing-gown he had worn.

"That's better," cried Oldroyd, approvingly; "why, Alleyne, you will be worth two of the patients I saw a few months ago if you go on like this."

Alleyne smiled sadly, and took a soft felt hat from its peg; and as he did so, he sent his hand again to his long, wild hair, and thought of his sister's words, the colour coming into his cheeks, as he said in an a.s.sumed easy-going manner,--

"It's time I had my hair cut."

"Well, not to put too fine a point upon it, Alleyne, it really is. I like short hair, it is so comfortable on a windy day."

The colour stayed in Alleyne's cheeks, for, in spite of himself, he felt a little nettled that his companion should have noticed this portion of his personal appearance; but he said nothing, and they went out into the yard, where, unfastening the pony, Oldroyd threw the rein over the docile little creature's neck and then tied it to a loop in the saddle, after which the pony followed them like a dog, till they reached its stable, where it was left.

"Now," cried Oldroyd, "what do you say to a good tonic?"

"Do I need one?" said Alleyne, looking at him wistfully.

"Badly. I don't mean physic, man," laughed Oldroyd, "but a strong dose of fresh air off the hills."

Alleyne laughed, and they started off across the boggy heath, avoiding the soft places, and, wherever the ground was firm, striding along at a good brisk pace over the elastic turf, which seemed to communicate its springiness to their limbs, while the sweet breeze sent a fresh light into their eyes.

Over the common and up the hilly lanes, where, as they went more slowly, Oldroyd told the history of his patient up at the common, the result of which was an animated discussion upon the game, laws, and Oldroyd began wondering at the change that had come over his companion. He had taken in a new accession of nervous force, which lent animation to his remarks, and, as he noted all this, Oldroyd began wondering, for he frankly told himself that there must have been other influences at work to make this change.

"Isn't that Captain Rolph?" he said suddenly, as they turned into a long lane that ran through one of the pine woods on the slope of a hill.