He walked to the French window, which looked out upon the green lawn with its shrubbery surroundings, beyond which were the meadows and the purling stream. It was a scene of peace and beauty that should have been welcome to the most exacting, and it was not without its effect upon the doctor, who carefully closed and fastened the window before crossing to the door leading into his surgery, which he opened, and looked in to see that the outer door was closed. Returning to the study table, the baize communication swung to, and North sat down, quite calm and collected now, and began to write. He paused to think several times, but only to go on more earnestly, till he had done, when he read that which he had written, made a slight alteration or two, and then carefully folded and placed the papers in large envelopes, one of which he directed, "To my executors," and laid in a prominent place upon the table, where it could not fail to be seen; the other to his London medical friend. Apparently not satisfied, he took up the envelope, and placed it in another, after which he wrote upon a sheet of paper: "Mrs Milt. Place this enclosure in my executors' hands yourself." Then directing the outer envelope to the housekeeper, he smiled with satisfaction, and had just laid it upon the table, duly fastened down, when a faint _chink_ made him turn his head in the direction of the surgery. North listened, and the faint sound of a bottle touching another was repeated. He rose and went softly to the door, which was not latched, opened it, and saw a hand dart down that was extended, as he stood face to face with Dally Watlock. In his surprise North did not speak, for he had been under the impression that he had fastened the door, and this gave the girl time to recover herself. "Oh, I beg your pardon, sir," she said, with a smile; "I only pushed that bottle back in its place. It was nearly off the shelf." "What do you want?" said North sharply. "Gran'fa, please sir, said I was to come on and tell you he wanted you." "Tell him I can't come," said North shortly. "Why did you come here, and not to the front?" "Oh, wasn't this right, sir?" said Dally apologetically. "I am so sorry, sir. But gran'fa said: `Go to Dr North's surgery,' and I came here. Please, sir, he says you're to send him some of that same stuff you gave him before." North stood with his brows knit for a moment, and then went to a cupboard, took out a bottle of brandy, half full, and handed it to the girl. "Take that," he said, "and tell him to use it discreetly. I cannot come." "Oh, thank you, sir. Gran'fa 'll be so pleased, sir; and master 'll be so glad when I tell him you're so much better; and Miss Mary, too." North winced, and then frowned, as he passed the girl to open the outer door, and feign her to go. She smiled and curtsied as she passed out, the door being closed sharply behind her, and she heard a bolt shoot.