o disturb a pile of
magnificent hair on the crown of her head. A deep purple dressing-gown
formed an admirable foil to the peculiarly rich brown of her
hair-plaits; her left arm, which was naked nearly up to the shoulder,
was thrown upward, and between the fingers of her right hand she held a
cigarette, while she idly breathed from her plump lips a thin stream of
smoke towards the ceiling.

The doctor's first feeling was a sense of his exaggerated prevision in
having brought appliances for a serious case; the next, something more
curious. While the scene and the moment were new to him and
unanticipated, the sentiment and essence of the moment were
indescribably familiar. What could be the cause of it? Probably a
dream.

Mrs. Charmond did not move more than to raise her eyes to him, and he
came and stood by her. She glanced up at his face across her brows and
forehead, and then he observed a blush creep slowly over her decidedly
handsome cheeks. Her eyes, which had lingered upon him with an
inquiring, conscious expression, were hastily withdrawn, and she
mechanically applied the cigarette again to her lips.

For a moment he forgot his errand, till suddenly arousing himself he
addressed her, formally condoled with her, and made the usual
professional inquiries about what had happened to her, and where she
was hurt.

"That's what I want you to tell me," she murmured, in tones of
indefinable reserve. "I quite believe in you, for I know you are very
accomplished, because you study so hard."

"I'll do my best to justify your good opinion," said the young man,
bowing. "And none the less that I am happy to find the accident has
not been serious."

"I am very much shaken," she said.

"Oh yes," he replied; and completed his examination, which convinced
him that there was really nothing the matter with her, and more than
ever puzzled him as to why he had been fetched, since she did not
appear to be a timid woman. "You must rest a while, and I'll send
something," he said.

"Oh, I forgot," she returned. "Look here." And she showed him a little
scrape on her arm--the full round arm that was exposed. "Put some
court-plaster on that, please."

He obeyed. "And now," she said, "before you go I want to put a
question to you. Sit round there in front of me, on that low chair,
and bring the candles, or one, to the little table. Do you smoke? Yes?
That's right--I am learning. Take one of these; and here's a light."