speculations, of which he was very fond.

Meanwhile I was carried swiftly into the country. The lamp in my
carriage was too dim to permit of reading; I therefore wrapped myself in
my rug and indulged in pleasant meditations.

It was past midnight when I arrived at the station for Bingley Manor,
where I found a gig awaiting me. A sharp drive of half an hour and I
was at the mansion door.

Dr McTougall was right. There was little the matter with old Mrs
Gordon, but the family were nervous, and rich--hence my visit. I did
what was necessary for the patient, comforted the rest by my presence,
had a sound night's rest, an early breakfast, a pleasant drive in the
fresh frosty air, and a brief wait of five minutes, when the punctual
train came up.

There is something inexpressibly delightful in a ride, on a sharp frosty
morning, in an express train. I have always felt a wild bounding
sensation of joy in rapid motion. The pace at which we went that
morning was exceptionally charming. Had I known that the engine-driver
was intoxicated perhaps it might not have been quite so exhilarating,
but I did not know that. I sat comfortably in my corner thinking of
Edith, and gazing with placid benignity at the frosted trees and bushes
which sparkled in the red wintry sun.

Yes, it was a glorious ride! I never had a better. The part of the
country through which we passed was lovely. One can always gaze
comfortably at the _distant_ landscape from a railway carriage, however
great the speed. As for the immediate foreground, it reminded me of a
race--houses, trees, farms, towns, villages, hamlets, horses, sheep,
cattle, poultry, hayricks, brickfields, were among the competitors in
that race. They rushed in mad confusion to the rear. I exulted in the
pace. Not so a stout elderly gentleman in the opposite corner, who
evidently disliked it--so true is it that "one man's meat is another's
poison."

"There is no reason to fear, sir," said I, with a smile, by way of
reassuring him. "This is a most excellently managed line--one never
hears of accidents on it."

"Too fast just now, anyhow," returned the elderly gentleman testily.

Just then the whistle was heard sounding violently.

"That is a sign of safety," said I; "shows that they are on the alert."

A severe application of the brakes caused me to stop abruptly, and the
elderly man to seize the arms of his seat with a convulsive grasp.

Suddenly there was a mighty cr