"Eighty-four!" repeated the other, once more. "No one would suspect
it. Why, Sally Graham is the same age as my wife; they were at school
together."

Too polite to push a question which involved a double-shotted answer,
Maitland merely said, "Indeed!" and, after a slight pause, added, "You
said, I think, that the road to Dundalk led past Commodore Graham's
cottage?"

"By the very gate."

"May I offer you a seat with me? I am going that way. I have received
news which calls me suddenly to England."

"I thank you much, but I have some visits yet to make before I return to
Port-Graham. I promised to stop the night there."

Having charged the doctor to convey to the Commodore's daughters his
sincere regret for their father's illness, and his no less sincere
hope of a speedy recovery, Maitland endeavored, in recognition of a
preliminary question or two about himself, to press the acceptance of
a fee; but the doctor, armed with that self-respect and tact his
profession so eminently upholds, refused to accept it, and took his
leave, perhaps well requited in having seen and spoken with the great
Mr. Norman Maitland, of whom half the country round were daily talking.

"Mr. Maitland is not ill, I hope?" said Alice, as she met the doctor on
his way through the garden.

"No, Mrs. Trafford; I have been making a friendly call--no more," said
the doctor, rather vain that he could thus designate his visit; and
with a few words of advice about her sister, he went his way. Alice,
meanwhile, saw that Maitland had observed her from his window, and
rightly guessed that he would soon be in search of her.

With that feminine instinct that never deceives in such cases, she
determined that whatever was to pass between them should be undisturbed.
She selected a most unfrequented path, bordered on one side by the high
laurel-hedge, and on the other by a little rivulet, beyond which lay
some rich meadows, backed in the distance by a thick plantation.

She had not gone far when she beard a short quick footstep behind her,
and in a few minutes Maitland was at her side. "You forgot to liberate
me," said he, "so I had to break my arrest."

"_Signor mio_, you must forgive me; we have had such a morning of
confusion and trouble: first, Bella ill,--not seriously, but confined
to bed; and then this poor old Commodore,--the doctor has told you all
about it; and, last of all, Mark storming about the house, and angry
with every one for having cau