"I have thought all this out, Mary, and I feel sometimes as if I could do nothing. You see it is like this: I feel certain that North does not want to see me." "Why, dear?" said Mary earnestly. "Because it reminds him too much of his trouble with Leo. He feels that very bitterly, and I know my presence would bring it up. Would it not be better to keep away, and let his nerves settle themselves?" "No," said Mary, in a quiet, firm way. "It was no fault of yours. It was Dr North's own seeking, and he needs help. Go to him, Hartley." "Go to him?" "Yes. He must be in sore trouble in every way. You say his cousin is there?" "Yes, and if I went much I should quarrel with that man." "No, no; you must not quarrel. But recollect how Horace North used to say that he felt obliged to be civil to him, but he wished he would not come." "Yes: I remember." "Then go to him, and be at his side, dear, in case he requires help and counsel. Remember you are his friend. Even if he seemed querulous and fretful, I should stay." "You are right, Mary; I'll go. I shall have some one to help me in Mrs Milt. I will stand by him." Mary's eyes brightened, and she held out her hand. "He will thank you some day, dear; even if he seems strange now." "He may say what he likes and do what he likes," said Salis warmly. "I ought not to have needed telling this; but I'm going to make up for past neglect now and play the part of dog." Salis was a little late in his promise to play the part of watch-dog for his friend, for as he walked up to the Manor House it was to meet a carriage just driving out. "The fly from the `Bull' at King's Hampton and a pair of horses," said Salis as he walked on, apparently paying no heed to the inmates of the carriage. "Now, whoever would these be? White cravat, one of them; the other thin, spare, and dark. Doctors, for a sovereign, I'd say, if I were not a parson." Mrs Milt opened the door to him, and showed him into the drawing-room, whose window looked down the back-garden with its great clump of evergreens and shady walks, beyond which were the meadows through which the river ran. "I'm very glad," said Salis eagerly; "your master has had a couple of doctors to see him, has he not?" "No, sir; oh, dear, no!" said the housekeeper sadly. "If you would only see him, and persuade him to, and get him to see a clever man, sir, it would be the best day's work you ever did." "I'll try, Mrs Milt," said Salis; "but I'm disappointed." "So am I, sir. He wants doing good to, instead of trying to do good to other people. Those are some friends of Mr Thompson, sir. One of them's got a very curious complaint that Mr Thompson said master was almost the only man who knew how to cure." "And did he see them?"