"Of course, of course. Come to me after breakfast.--And look here, I want to get on the open heathy part, among the gorse and fir-trees. Which road had I better take?" "Well, sir, if you don't mind the wet grass, you'd best go acrost the meadows out into the lane, turn to the left past the church, take the first turning to the right, and go straight on." "Thanks; I shall find my way. Don't forget. I daresay I can set you right." And the doctor went off at a swinging pace, crossed the meadows, where the soft-eyed cows paused to look up at him, then leaped a gate, walked down the lane, had a look at the pretty old church, embowered in trees, and had nearly reached the open common-land, when the sharp cantering of a horse roused him from his pleasant morning reverie. He looked round, to see that the cantering horse was ridden by a lady, whose long habit and natty felt hat set off what seemed in the distance to be a very graceful figure; while the oncoming group appeared to be advancing through an elongated telescopic frame of green leaves and drooping branches, splashed with gold and blue. "Here's one sensible woman, at all events. What a splendid horse!" His glance was almost momentary. Then, feeling that he was staring rudely, he went on with his walk, continuing his way along the lane, and passing a gate that opened at once upon the furzy common-land. Suddenly the horse was checked a short distance behind him, and an imperious voice called out: "Here!--hi!--my man." John Scales, M.D., felt amused. "This is one of the haughty aristocrats we read about in books," he said to himself, as he turned and saw a handsome, imperious-looking woman of eight-and-twenty or so, beckoning to him with the handle of her whip. "The goddess Diana in a riding-habit by Poole, and superbly mounted," muttered the doctor as he stared wonderingly. He saw that the lady's hair was dark, her cheeks slightly flushed with exorcise; that there was a glint of very white teeth between two scarlet lips; that the figure was really what he had at the first glance imagined--well formed and graceful, if slightly too matured; and his first idea was to take off his hat and stand uncovered in the presence of so much beauty; his second, as he saw the curl of the lady's upper lip, and her imperious glance, to thrust his hands lower in his pockets and return the haughty stare. "Here, my man, come and open this gate." As she spoke. Scales saw her pass her whip into her bridle hand, draw off a tan-coloured gauntlet glove, and a white and jewelled set of taper fingers go towards the little pocket in her saddle. "Why, confound her impudence! she takes me for a yokel, and is going to give me a pint of beer," said the doctor to himself; and he stood as if turned into stone. "Do you hear!" she cried again sharply, and in the tones of one accustomed to the greatest deference. "Come and open this gate."