observe.

What our circle of friends thought, had become a matter of very
secondary consideration to me; but there seemed a general disposition to
condone my offences, in view of the calamity that was hanging by a mere
thread above me. I discovered from their significant remarks that it had
been quite the fashion to visit Sark during the summer, by the Queen of
the Isles, which made the passage every Monday; and that Tardif's
cottage had been an object of attraction to many of my relatives of
every degree. Few of them had caught even a glimpse of Olivia; and I
suspected that she had kept herself well out of sight on those days when
the weekly steamer flooded the island with visitors.

I had not taken up any of my old patients again, for I was determined
that everybody should feel that my residence at home was only temporary.
But, about ten days after my return, the following note was brought to
me, directed in full to Dr. Martin Dobree:

"A lady from England, who is only a visitor in Guernsey, will be much
obliged by Dr. Martin Dobree calling upon her, at Rose Villa, Vauvert
Road. She is suffering from a slight indisposition; and, knowing Dr.
Senior by name and reputation, she would feel great confidence in the
skill of Dr. Senior's friend."

I wondered for an instant who the stranger could be, and how she knew
the Seniors; but, as there could be no answer to these queries without
visiting the lady, I resolved to go. Rose Villa was a house where the
rooms were let to visitors during the season, and the Vauvert Road was
scarcely five minutes' walk from our house. Julia was paying her daily
visit to my mother, and I was at a loss for something to do, so I went
at once.

I found a very handsome, fine-looking woman; dark, with hair and eyes as
black as a gypsy's, and a clear olive complexion to match. Her forehead
was low, but smooth and well-shaped; and the lower part of her face,
handsome as it was, was far more developed than the upper. There was not
a trace of refinement about her features; yet the coarseness of them was
but slightly apparent as yet. She did not strike me as having more than
a very slight ailment indeed, though she dilated fluently about her
symptoms, and affected to be afraid of fever. It is not always possible
to deny that a woman has a violent headache; but, where the pulse is all
right, and the tongue clean, it is clear enough that there is not any
thing very serious threatening her. My new pa