he
gate, and Mrs. Carruthers, having left her sister-in-law in charge while
she went out to meet its occupants, returned shortly with the doctor and
his blooming daughter, who, as a friend of the family, insisted on
accompanying him to offer her services if she could be of help.

"Come, Doctor!" said the Squire, rising with the rest of the party to
greet him and his companion; "the patients are in no immediate danger,
so you and Miss Fanny must sit down and help us with breakfast."

Miss Fanny was nothing loath to do so, after an invigorating drive, and
in the company of such a number of eligible bachelors as was rarely seen
in Flanders. She had a word for Mr. Errol, for the detective, for the
lawyer and the dominie, but to Wilkinson's great relief she finally
pitched upon Mr. Perrowne and held him captive. Then Wilkinson improved
the time with Miss Du Plessis, using as his excuse the letter or note
she was to send to Rawdon declining his offer for the present, which the
schoolmaster expressed his desire personally to take to the office.
Breakfast over, the doctor inspected his patients, Newcome, Rufus, and
Timotheus. The two latter he dismissed as all the better of a little
blood letting, recommending lots of cold water applied externally. The
case of the incendiary was more serious, but not likely to be fatal.

CHAPTER X.

Doctor Summoned to the Select Encampment--Newcome
Interviewed--Nash's Discovery--His Venture--Drop the
Handkerchief--The Dominie's Indignation--The Pedestrians
Detained--The Doctor Stays--A Trip to the Lakes--Conversation on
the Way--The Richards--Fishing--Songs--The Barrier in the
Channel--Nash's Dead Body Found--His Crazed Sister Comes to
Bridesdale.

It was only eight o'clock when the elders finished their breakfast, and
the children prepared to succeed them. All the party, except Mrs.
Carruthers and Mrs. Carmichael, who had domestic duties before them, and
Miss Du Plessis, who had her note to write, strolled out into the garden
in groups. Shortly, a buckboard drove up to the gate, and its occupant,
a washed out looking youth, enquired if the doctor was there, Dr.
Halbert. The subject of the enquiry went forward, and found that he was
wanted at the Select Encampment, for a man who had shot himself.

"I tell you frankly, my man," said the doctor, "I don't care to go to
your Select Encampment; there is too much mystery about it."

"I guess the pay'