Eliza smiled to herself as she said this, giving herself the credit of having managed a splendid little bit of diplomacy, for, according to her code, young gents ought to have opportunities to talk to young ladies whenever there was a chance. She was, however, terribly taken aback by the young doctor's words. "Thank you, yes, but I don't want to see her,"--words which, had she heard them, would have made Lucy's sobs come more quickly. "Is Mr Alleyne in?" "Yes, sir, he's in the observatory." "I'll come in then," said Oldroyd; and he dismounted, and threw the rein over the ring hook in the yard wall. "If you please, sir," said the maid, who did not like to lose an opportunity now that a medical man was in the house, "I don't think I'm very well." "Eh, not well?" said Oldroyd, pausing in the hall, "why you appear as rosy and bonny as a girl can look." "Thankye, sir," said the girl, with a bob; "but I'm dreadful poorly, all the same." "Why, what's the matter?" For answer Eliza put her hands behind her, and seemed as if she were indulging in the school-girl trick of what is called "making a face" at the doctor, for she closed her eyes, opened her mouth, wrinkled her brow, and put out a very long red tongue, which quivered and curled up at the point. "That'll do," said Oldroyd, hiding a smile; and the tongue shot back, Eliza's eyes opened, her mouth closed, and the wrinkles disappeared from her face. "Will that do, sir?" "Yes; your tongue's beautifully healthy, your eyes are bright, and your skin moist and cool. Why, what's the matter?" "Please sir, I'm quite well of a night," said Eliza, with another bob, "but I do have such dreadful dreams." "Oh!" said Oldroyd, drawing in a long breath, "I see. Did you have a bad dream last night?" "Oh yes, sir, please. I dreamed as a poacher were going to murder me, and I couldn't run away." "Let me see; you had supper last night at half-past nine, did you not?" "Yes, sir." "Bread and Dutch cheese?" "Yes, sir." "Ah, you want a little medicine," said Oldroyd quietly. "I'll send you some." "And please, sir, how am I to take it?" "Oh, you'll find that on the bottle, and mind this: you are not to eat any more cheese for supper, but you may have as much butter as you like, and stale bread." "Thank you, sir. Will you go in, sir?" "Yes, I'll go up," said Oldroyd, and then to himself, "What humbugs we doctors are; but we are obliged to be. If I told the girl only to leave off eating cheese she would think she was ill-used, and as likely as not she would get a holiday on purpose to go over to the town and see another man." He tapped sharply on the door with the handle of his whip, and in response to the loud "Come in," entered, to find Alleyne standing amongst his instruments. "Ah, Oldroyd," he said, holding out his hand, which the other took, "glad to see you."