"Well--yes, certainly; that, of course, will be necessary first." "What is her age, may I ask?" "Twenty. Please to follow me." He led me into a magnificent drawing-room, through the festooned curtains of which I saw another beyond with the buhl and marqueterie tables, easy chairs, couches, mirrors, and glass shades, peculiar to such apartments. There was a pleasant odour of flowers and perfume; and there, seated on a low folding-chair, was a young lady, in a maize-coloured silk dress, the tint of which well became her rich dark beauty. On the soft carpet we approached unheard, or, if noticed, she never deigned to move, and I could observe the superb development of her figure, which looked more like the maturity of twenty-eight than twenty. Her attitude was expressive of perfect listlessness; a book lay on her knee, but her eyes were bent on vacancy. The purity of her profile was most pleasing; her eyelashes were long and black, and curled at the tips. The masses of her dark chestnut-coloured hair were looped up on her head in such a manner as to show the delicacy and contour of her throat and cheek, the complexion of which was pale and clear. Her nose was straight, with nostrils deeply curved; and the lips were full, as if with a fixed pout. "It is the doctor, my dear girl," said Sir Percival. But she only raised her shoulders and eyebrows a little, and became again, still and quiet. "Gertrude, dearest, 'tis the doctor. I told you that I should send for him." "He is welcome," replied the girl, as she raised her large, dark, and at that time sullen-looking eyes to mine; and then added, "But this is not Dr. Crammer, papa." "It is his assistant, Dr.--Dr.--Colliner." "Oh, papa!" she exclaimed, suddenly starting to her feet, as the whole expression of her face changed; "it is the gentleman who saved me in the Park, when that horrid animal----and your arm, sir--was it injured on that occasion? Oh, I hope not!" "It was broken----" "Oh, good heavens!--and for me!" "In such a cause I should have risked the arms of Briareus, had I possessed them!" said I, with enthusiasm. "Permit me to thank you, sir," said the baronet, stiffly and grandly. "I always thought that the gentleman who had rendered my family a service so important would have done us the honour to have left his card, at least." "But I knew not whom I had aided, sir, or where to call." "Most true," said Miss Chalcot; "I left you in such rude haste; but, then, I was so alarmed!" "And now, Miss Chalcot, permit me to feel your pulse." I put my fingers on the delicate wrist. Her pulse was going like lightning for a time; then it became intermittent; then feeble, as the old listless expression of inquietude stole over her fine face again, as her mind, probably by the object of my visit, reverted to its old train of thought, whatever it was.