He rang the bell, and the specified attendants appeared: two young girls about sixteen and seventeen; both pretty, and simply, but very becomingly, dressed. Of the provision set before him the doctor preferred some cold chicken and tongue. Madeira and sherry were on the table, and the young attendants offered him hock and claret. The doctor took a capacious glass from each of the fair cup-bearers, and pronounced both wines excellent, and deliciously cool. He declined more, not to overheat himself in walking, and not to infringe on his anticipations of dinner. The dog, who had behaved throughout with exemplary propriety, was not forgotten. The doctor rose to depart. 'I think,' said his host, 'I may now ask you the Homeric question--(Greek phrase){1} 1 Who, and whence, are you? 'Most justly,' said the doctor. My name is Theophilus Opimian. I am a Doctor of Divinity, and the incumbent of Ashbrook-cum-Ferndale.' 'I am simply,' said the other, 'Algernon Falconer. I have inherited some money, but no land. Therefore, having the opportunity, I made this purchase to fit it up in my own fashion, and live in it in my own way.' The doctor preparing to depart, Mr. Falconer proposed to accompany him part of the way, and calling out another Newfoundland dog, who immediately struck up a friendship with his companion, he walked away with the doctor, the two dogs gamboling before them. CHAPTER IV THE FOREST--A SOLILOQUY ON HAIR Mille hominum species, et rerum discolor usus: Velle suum cuique est, nee voto vivitur uno. Persius. In mind and taste men differ as in frame: Each has his special will, and few the same. _The Rev. Dr. Opimian_. It strikes me as singular that, with such a house, you should have only female domestics. _Mr. Falconer._ It is not less singular perhaps that they are seven sisters, all the children of two old servants of my father and mother. The eldest is about my own age, twenty-six, so that they have all grown up with me in time and place. They live in great harmony together, and divide among them the charge of all the household duties. Those whom you saw are the two youngest. _The Rev. Dr. Opimian._ If the others acquit themselves as well, you have a very efficient staff; but seven young women as the establishment of one young bachelor, for such I presume you to be (_Mr. Falconer assented_), is something new and strange. The world is not over charitable. [Illustration: Seven young women in a bachelor's establishment. 056-24 _Mr. Falconer._ The world will never suppose a good motive where it can suppose a bad one. I would not willingly offend any of its prejudices. I would not affect eccentricity. At the same time, I do not feel disposed to be put out of my way because it is not the way of the world--_Le Chemin du Monde_, as a Frenchman entitled Congreve's comedy{1}--but I assure you these seven young women live here as they might do in the temple of Vesta.