"

In spite of the trouble she was in there was room for a glow of
satisfaction in Aunt Hannah's mind on finding how great an interest was
felt by the servants; and she set herself to wait as patiently as she
could for news.

"It will not be so very long, will it dear?" she whispered, for she
could not trust herself to speak aloud.

"It must be two hours," said the doctor gravely. "It is a long way. I
am sorry I did not make Bruff drive, but I thought it would take so long
to get the pony ready that I started him at once;" and then ready to
reprove his wife for her anxiety and eagerness to go to door or window
from time to time, the doctor showed himself to be just as excited, and
at the end of the first hour, he strode out into the hall.

Aunt Hannah followed him.

"I can't stand it any longer, my dear," he cried. "I don't believe I
care a pin about the young dog, for I am sure he is playing us some
prank, but I must go and meet Bruff."

"Yes, do, do," cried Aunt Hannah, hurriedly getting the doctor's hat and
stick. "But couldn't I go, too?"

The doctor bent down, and kissed her.

"No, no, my dear, you would only hinder me," he said, tenderly, and to
avoid seeing her pained and working face he hurried out and took the
road for Lenby, striking off to the left, after passing the church.

But after walking sharply along the dark lane, for about a couple of
miles, it suddenly occurred to the doctor that the chances were, that
Bruff, who knew his way well, would take the short cuts, by the fields,
and, after hesitating for a few minutes, he turned and hurried back.

"A fool's errand," he muttered. "I ought to have known better."

As matters turned out, he had done wisely in returning, and the walk had
occupied his mind, for, as he came within hearing of the Little Manor
again, he fancied that a sound in front was the click of the swing-gate.

It was: for he reached the door just as Eliza was on her way to the
drawing-room to announce that Bruff had come back.

"Bring him here," said the doctor, who had entered. "No: stop: I'll
come and speak to him in the kitchen."

But Aunt Hannah grasped his hand.

"No, no," she whispered firmly now. "I must know the worst."

"Send Bruff in," said the doctor, sternly, and the next minute the
gardener was heard rubbing his boots on the mat, and came into the hall,
followed by the other servants.

"Well, Bruff," said the doctor, in a short, stern way, "you have no