Sir Percival regarded us dubiously over the point of his high, thin, aristocratic nose. I was evidently too young, perhaps too goad-looking, or had too great an air of _empressement_ about me, to suit his ideas of a medical adviser for his daughter, so he said, coldly and loftily-- "Without disparagement to you, sir, I think I should rather have Crammer's opinion, Dr.---Dr. Lorimer." "Mortimer," I suggested, mildly. "Ah, yes! If he don't come soon to town, I'll have Clarke or Cooper to see her." "Then I shall bid you good morning," said I, assuming my hat; but turning again to the daughter, while he was ringing the bell for the servant--he of the calves and whiskers--to order the "pill-box," I said, "I have often gone to the scene of your accident, at _the same hour_, to look for you. Pardon me saying this; but your face so dwelt in my memory." "At the same hour--it was about _two_ in the afternoon," said she, with a bright smile. "Yes--good evening, Dr. Short," blundered the baronet. My name was evidently not worth his committal to memory. And I drove away, feeling happy in the consciousness that I had seen her again, and that, though _engaged_, as I had been told, I should see her again where we first met, for her bright glance of intelligence told me _that_. Her father had shown pretty pointedly--with all his punctilio, almost rudely--that he had no further use for my professional services; but I felt deeply smitten by the beauty of the girl. I strove in vain to thrust her image from my thoughts, and recalled again and again the galling information that she was the betrothed bride of some beast--I rated him "a beast"--unknown; but strove in vain; and found myself going to sleep that night in my den above the surgery in Bedford Street, with her laced handkerchief under my pillow, like a lover of romance, with all the roar of the prosaic Strand in my ears. Next afternoon--Crammer was dutifully at his rich aunt's funeral--saw me in the park, and occupying the same seat from whence I started to arrest the runaway horse. Every fair _equestrienne_ I saw in the distance made my heart beat quicker; but how joyous were its emotions--how high its pulses--when, exactly at the hour of two, I saw her come trotting slowly along the walk, accompanied by the same old groom, and draw up, with her little gauntletted glove tight on the bridle rein, just before me. I came forward, and, after raising my hat, presented my hand, which I felt to be trembling. "Somehow, I thought you would be here," said she, with charming frankness, "and how is your arm? Better still, I trust." "I shall have the splints off to-morrow, Miss Chalcot." "That is good--I'm so thankful! Do you know that though this is only the third time we have met, Dr. Mortimer, I feel quite as if we were old friends? You must have thought my reception of you rather ungracious yesterday."