‘I should think that any one who has taken the ox-fences on the Roman Campagna, as I have, might venture to face your small stone-walls here.’ ‘That’s plucky, anyhow; and I hope, Joe, it will put you on your metal to show yourself worthy of your companionship. What is old Mathew looking so mysteriously about? What do you want?’ The old servant thus addressed had gone about the room with the air of one not fully decided to whom to speak, and at last he leaned over Miss Kearney’s shoulder, and whispered a few words in her ear. ‘Of course not, Mat!’ said she, and then turning to her father--‘Mat has such an opinion of my medical skill, he wants me to see Mr. Walpole, who, it seems, has got up, and evidently increased his pain by it.’ ‘Oh, but is there no doctor near us?’ asked Nina eagerly. ‘I’d go at once,’ said Kate frankly, ‘but my skill does not extend to surgery.’ ‘I have some little knowledge in that way: I studied and walked the hospitals for a couple of years,’ broke out Joe. ‘Shall I go up to him?’ ‘By all means,’ cried several together, and Joe rose and followed Mathew upstairs. ‘Oh, are you a medical man?’ cried Lockwood, as the other entered. ‘After a fashion, I may say I am. At least, I can tell you where my skill will come to its limit, and that is something.’ ‘Look here, then--he would insist on getting up, and I fear he has displaced the position of the bones. You must be very gentle, for the pain is terrific.’ ‘No; there’s no great mischief done--the fractured parts are in a proper position. It is the mere pain of disturbance. Cover it all over with the ice again, and’--here he felt his pulse--‘let him have some weak brandy-and-water.’ ‘That’s sensible advice--I feel it. I am shivery all over,’ said Walpole. ‘I’ll go and make a brew for you,’ cried Joe, ‘and you shall have it as hot as you can drink it.’ He had scarcely left the room, when he returned with the smoking compound. ‘You’re such a jolly doctor,’ said Walpole, ‘I feel sure you’d not refuse me a cigar?’ ‘Certainly not.’ ‘Only think! that old barbarian who was here this morning said I was to have nothing but weak tea or iced lemonade.’ Lockwood selected a mild-looking weed, and handed it to his friend, and was about to offer one to Atlee, when he said-- ‘But we have taken you from your dinner--pray go back again.’ ‘No, we were at dessert. I’ll stay here and have a smoke, if you will let me. Will it bore you, though?’ ‘On the contrary,’ said Walpole, ‘your company will be a great boon to us; and as for myself, you have done me good already.’ ‘What would you say, Major Lockwood, to taking my place below-stairs? They are just sitting over their wine--some very pleasant claret--and the young ladies, I perceive, here, give half an hour of their company before they leave the dining-room.’ ‘Here goes, then,’ said Lockwood. ‘Now that you remind me of it, I do want a glass of wine.’