ghted, for the night was rather dark. A
bag and valise, as well as I could see, were pulled from the interior by
the post-boy, and a box from the top of the vehicle, and these were carried
into the hall.

I was obliged to keep my cheek against the window-pane to command a view
of the point of debarkation, and my breath upon the glass, which dimmed it
again almost as fast as I wiped it away, helped to obscure my vision. But
I saw a tall figure, in a cloak, get down and swiftly enter the house, but
whether male or female I could not discern.

My heart beat fast. I jumped at once to a conclusion. My uncle was
worse--was, in fact, dying; and this was the physician, too late summoned
to his bedside.

I listened for the ascent of the doctor, and his entrance at my uncle's
door, which, in the stillness of the night, I thought I might easily hear,
but no sound reached me. I listened so for fully five minutes, but
without result. I returned to the window, but the carriage and horses had
disappeared.

I was strongly tempted to wake Mary Quince, and take counsel with her, and
persuade her to undertake a reconnoissance. The fact is, I was persuaded
that my uncle was in extremity, and I was quite wild to know the doctor's
opinion. But, after all, it would be cruel to summon the good soul from her
refreshing nap. So, as I began to feel very cold, I returned to my bed,
where I continued to listen and conjecture until I fell asleep.

In the morning, as was usual, before I was dressed, in came Milly.

'How is Uncle Silas?' I eagerly enquired.

'Old L'Amour says he's queerish still; but he's not so dull as yesterday,'
answered she.

'Was not the doctor sent for?' I asked.

'Was he? Well, that's odd; and she said never a word o't to me,' answered
she.

'I'm asking only,' said I.

'I don't know whether he came or no,' she replied; 'but what makes you take
that in your head?'

'A chaise arrived here between two and three o'clock last night.'

'Hey! and who told you?' Milly seemed all on a sudden highly interested.

'I saw it, Milly; and some one, I fancy the doctor, came from it into the
house.'

'Fudge, lass! who'd send for the doctor? 'Twasn't he, I tell you. What was
he like?' said Milly.

'I could only see clearly that he, or _she_, was tall, and wore a cloak,' I
replied.

'Then 'twasn't him nor t'other I was thinking on, neither; and I'll be
hanged but I think it will be Cormoran,' cried Milly, with a thoughtful r