"Well, I suppose that is the man I mean. He's not so very young though--he's thirty at least. And for the boots and breeches--I asked him once, in a joking way, whether he did not think them rather unprofessional. But he told me he saved ever so much time in open weather by going across the country. 'And,' said he, 'if I can see patients sooner, and more of them, in that way, I think it is quite professional. The other day,' he said, 'I was sent for, and I went straight as the crow flies, and I beat a little baby only by five minutes after all.' Of course after that there was nothing more to say." "He has very queer notions, hasn't he?" "Yes, he has, for a medical man. He goes to church, for instance." "I don't count that a fault." "Well, neither do I. Rather the contrary. But one of the profession here says it is for the sake of being called out in the middle of the service." "Oh! that is stale. I don't think he would find that answer. But it is a pity he is not married." "So it is. I wish he were. But that is a fault that may be remedied some day. One thing I know about him is, that when I called him in to see one of my boarders, he sat by his bedside half an hour, watching him, and then went away without giving him any medicine." "I don't see the good of that. What do you make of that? I call it very odd." "He said to me: 'I am not sure what is the matter with him. A wrong medicine would do him more harm than the right one would do him good. Meantime he is in no danger. I will come and see him to-morrow morning.' Now I liked that, because it showed me that he was thinking over the case. The boy was well in two days. Not that that indicates much. All I say is, he is not a common man." "I don't like to dismiss Dr. Wade." "No; but you must not stand on ceremony, if he is doing her no good. You are judge enough of that." I thought it best to say nothing; but I heartily approved of all the honest gentleman said; and I meant to use my persuasion afterwards, if necessary, to the same end; for I liked all he told about the new doctor. I asked his name. "Mr. Armstrong," answered the schoolmaster. "Armstrong--" I repeated. "Is not that the name of the new curate?" "To be sure. They are brothers. Henry, the doctor, is considerably younger than the curate." "Did the curate seek the appointment because the doctor was here before him?" "I suppose so. They are much attached to each other." "If he is at all equal as a doctor to what I think his brother is as a preacher, Purleybridge is a happy place to possess two such healers," I said. "Well, time will show," returned Mr. Bloomfield.