For the curate's heavy step was heard upon the stairs, and directly after, as North hastened to open the door, Salis entered, carrying Mary in his arms, she looking white and anxious, and gazing quickly from her sister to North and back. There was an interchange of glances all round, and then, as if by common consent, the subject of the past night was avoided for a time, and North turned to go. "But you will stay breakfast?" said Mary. "You look tired and worn out." She coloured slightly, for the words, full of anxiety for North's welfare, had escaped her inadvertently; and the colour deepened as, in his pleasantly frank way, he smiled in her face. "It is very good of you," he said. "You are always so thoughtful. If Leo will only endorse the invitation, I shall be very glad to stay." "I'm sure we shall be very pleased," said Leo calmly; and he crossed to her side, bent down, and said, in low tone: "I like that." "You like what?" she said coolly enough. "The brave way in which you have mastered your weakness." She smiled and looked furtively at her sister, who was less successful in controlling her feelings. The breakfast passed over without further allusion to the catastrophe at the Hall till towards the end, when Salis said suddenly: "I have a very unpleasant duty to perform." Mary looked up anxiously. "Yes, dear; I must go over and see Thomas Candlish." Leo bent over her cup. "It is a duty that I must fulfil, North." "Yes," said the doctor gravely; "especially at a time like this." "How horrible!" And when the doctor left soon after, and he shook hands with his friend again, the latter once more exclaimed: "How horrible!" But it was in allusion to the sudden termination of the career of a man who drank heavily, and there was no _arriere pensee_ as to the possibility of a quarrel between the two young men. CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. THE DOCTOR'S OPPORTUNITY. About midday, on his return from visiting his patients, North looked rather black. Perhaps it was the reflection from the sleek, superfine garments of his cousin, for that gentleman was walking slowly up and down on the lawn in front of the old Manor House, and in no way adding to the attractions of the quaintly-cut, well-kept place. "You here, Thompson!" "Yes, my dear Horace; I had to come down on business to-day, and I thought you would give me a bit of lunch before I went on." "To see Mrs Berens?" "Well--er--perhaps I may give her a call; but my business was with--dear me, how strange that you should take any interest in social matters that have nothing to do with the body!" "Am I such a very eccentric man, then, that I should study my profession hard?" "Not at all, my dear fellow--not at all. I study mine hard, my dear Horace. Left almost penniless, it was a necessity, and I have, I am proud to say, been very successful, and am practically independent. But my visit here to-day was not to see the handsome widow--there, don't blush, old fellow."