Doctor Spence, when he paid his visit later in the day, found him thus,
and eyed him curiously.

"Arm's getting on all right, Mr. Vernon," he said; "but the rest of you
isn't improving. I think you'd better get up to-morrow and go
downstairs. I'd keep you here, of course; but lying in bed isn't a
bracing operation, especially when you think; and you think, don't you?"

"When I can't help it," replied Vernon, rather grimly. "I'm glad you
have given me permission to get up; though I dare say I should have got
up without it."

"I dare say," commented the old doctor. "Always have your own way, as a
rule, don't you?"

"Always," assented the patient listlessly.

"Ye-s; it's a bad thing for most men; a very bad thing for you, I should
say. By the way, if you should go downstairs, you must keep quiet----"

"Good heavens, you don't suppose I intend to dance or sing!" broke in
Vernon, with a smile, of irritation.

"No; I mean that you must sit still and avoid any exertion. You'll find
that you are not capable of much in the way of dancing or singing," he
added, with a short laugh. "Try and amuse yourself, and don't--worry."

"Thanks," said Mr. Vernon.

Then, after a pause, he added:

"I must seem an ill-conditioned beast, I'm afraid, doctor; but the fact
is--well, I have been worried lately, and this ridiculous accident
hasn't tended to soothe me."

The doctor nodded.

"Life's too short for worry," he said, with the wisdom of age.

"No, you're right; nothing matters!" assented Mr. Vernon. "Well, I'm
glad I can get up to-morrow. I'll clear out of here as soon as
possible."

"I shouldn't hurry," remarked Doctor Spence. "They're glad enough to
have you."

Vernon nodded impatiently.

"So they say--the boy's been in here this morning--but that's nonsense,
of course."

On his way down the steep village street the doctor met Nell coming up,
with her quick, bright step, and he stopped the gray cob to speak to
her.

"Well, Miss Nell," he said, with a smile twinkling in his keen eyes as
they scanned the beautiful face with the dark tendrils of hair blown
across her brow, beneath her old sailor hat, the clear gray eyes shining
like crystal, the red lips parted slightly with the climb. "Just left
your interesting patient. He'll come down to-morrow. Don't let him fag
himself; and, see here, Nell, try and amuse him."

The gray eyes opened still wider, then grew thoughtful and doubtful, and
the doctor laughed.

"Rat