"Certainly,--in a few days," returned the doctor. "Where is your master?" The negro pointed to the Major's cottage. "Ole massa is thar," he answered. "He tole me, when you's t'rough, to ax you to come an' see him." The doctor turned in the direction indicated, but was plainly in no hurry to reach the goal. He walked very leisurely, stopping, now and then, to look round on the moonlit landscape. Not till he seemed to have settled some knotty point to his satisfaction, did he enter the cottage. The Major was seated at the table, with his bottle and glass before him. He did not need to ask Doctor Remy how the case had gone; _that_ had already been made known to him by the mouths of half-a-dozen eager messengers. He merely said, in a tone that was half a protest;-- "I never expected to be so much obliged to you, Doctor Remy. I should be sorry to lose my faithful old nurse. She is the last link between me and my early days. Is she out of danger?" "For the present, yes. And in the morning, I will look in to see how she goes on,--that is, if you wish." "I shall take it as a favor," returned the Major, in a tone that was almost courteous. "Sit down, before you go, and take a drink." Doctor Remy quietly took a chair, but shook his head at the proffered glass. "No, thank you," said he. "We physicians need to keep our heads clear and our nerves steady; and brandy does not conduce to either." "It never hurt mine," answered Major Bergan, rather surlily, as if he suspected a covert insinuation in the doctor's words. "Perhaps not," replied Dr. Remy, indifferently. And, glancing out of the open window, he added, "A fine place you have here." "The finest in the county," replied the Major, with frank pride. "That is, as far as soil and crops are concerned. The old Hall is out of repair, to be sure, but it can be restored to its former grandeur, whenever I see fit." Dr. Remy gave his host a long, penetrating, comprehensive look. "I should advise you not to neglect the work too long," he observed, gravely, "if you have it much at heart." Major Bergan set down the glass that was on its way to his lips, and looked wonderingly at his guest. "Why?" he asked. "Because a man of your age, with your habits, breaks down soon, when once he begins." "My habits!" growled the Major, drawing his eyebrows into a heavy frown, "what do you mean, you insolent scamp?" "I mean," replied Doctor Remy, composedly, "habits at once active, careless, and self-indulgent; such as riding or walking in the heat of the day, spending hours in the rice fields, rising early and sitting up late, eating _ad libitum_, and drinking _ad infinitum_." The summary was too truthful, and the tone too professional, for the Major to retain his unreasonable anger. He merely asked,--"How do you know that I do these things?" "By your looks." "Pshaw!" exclaimed Major Bergan, with a scornful curl of the lip.