kissed her, and started on his journey on
foot to Silverbridge.

It was about noon when he reached Silverbridge, and he was told that
Doctor Tempest was at home. The servant asked him for a card. "I have
no card," said Mr. Crawley, "but I will write my name for your behoof
if your master's hospitality will allow me paper and pencil." The
name was written, and as Crawley waited in the drawing-room he spent
his time in hating Dr. Tempest because the door had been opened by a
man-servant dressed in black. Had the man been in livery he would
have hated Dr. Tempest all the same. And he would have hated him a
little had the door been opened even by a smart maid.

"Your letter came to hand yesterday morning, Dr. Tempest," said Mr
Crawley, still standing, though the doctor had pointed to a chair for
him after shaking hands with him; "and having given yesterday to the
consideration of it, with what judgment I have been able to exercise,
I have felt it to be incumbent upon me to wait upon you without
further delay, as by doing so I may perhaps assist your views and
save labour to those gentlemen who are joined with you in this
commission of which you have spoken. To some of them it may possibly
be troublesome that they should be brought here on next Monday."

Dr. Tempest had been looking at him during this speech, and could see
by his shoes and trousers that he had walked from Hogglestock to
Silverbridge. "Mr. Crawley, will you not sit down?" said he, and then
he rang his bell. Mr. Crawley sat down, not on the chair indicated,
but on one further removed and at the other side of the table. When
the servant came,--the objectionable butler in black clothes that
were so much smarter than Mr. Crawley's own,--his master's orders were
communicated without any audible word, and the man returned with a
decanter and wine-glasses.

"After your walk, Mr. Crawley," said Dr. Tempest, getting up from his
seat to pour out the wine.

"None, I thank you."

"Pray let me persuade you. I know the length of the miles so well."

"I will take none if you please, sir," said Mr. Crawley.

"Now, Mr. Crawley," said Dr. Tempest, "do let me speak to you as a
friend. You have walked eight miles, and are going to talk to me on a
subject which is of vital importance to yourself. I won't discuss it
unless you'll take a glass of wine and a biscuit."

"Dr. Tempest!"

"I'm quite in earnest. I won't. If you do as I ask, you shall talk to
me till dinner-