Over the common and up the hilly lanes, where, as they went more slowly, Oldroyd told the history of his patient up at the common, the result of which was an animated discussion upon the game, laws, and Oldroyd began wondering at the change that had come over his companion. He had taken in a new accession of nervous force, which lent animation to his remarks, and, as he noted all this, Oldroyd began wondering, for he frankly told himself that there must have been other influences at work to make this change. "Isn't that Captain Rolph?" he said suddenly, as they turned into a long lane that ran through one of the pine woods on the slope of a hill. "Rolph?" said Alleyne quietly, as he glanced in the direction of a distant horseman, coming towards them. "Yes--no--I cannot say." "I should say--yes, from his military seat in the saddle," said Oldroyd. "Well, if it be or no, he doesn't mean to meet us. He has gone through the wood." For, as he spoke, the coming horseman drew rein turned his horse's head, leaped a ditch, and disappeared amongst the pines. "What does he want up here?" said Oldroyd to himself, and then aloud, "Been having a good `breather' round the hills," he continued. "Sort of thing you ought to cultivate, Alleyne. Nothing like horse exercise." "Horses are costly, and the money I should spend upon a horse would be valuable to me for some optical instrument," said Alleyne, speaking cheerfully, though all the while he was slightly excited by the sight of the horseman they had supposed to be Rolph; but this wore off in a few minutes, and they soon came in sight of the cottages, while before them a tall figure, graceful in appearance, in spite of the homely dress, had suddenly crossed a stile, hurried in the same direction, and turned in at the cottage gate. "Mademoiselle Judith," said Oldroyd; "a very pretty girl with a very ugly name. Hallo! We are in trouble." "I don't know what's come to you. Here's your poor father so bad he can't lift hand or foot, and you always running off to Mother Wattley's or picking flowers. Flowers indeed! Better stop and mind your father." This in very much strident tones from the cottage whose gate they were entering; and then a sudden softening as Oldroyd and Alleyne darkened the doorway, and the nurse dropped a curtsey. "Didn't know you was so close, sir. I was only saying a word to Judith--oh, she's gone." "How is Hayle to-day?" said Oldroyd, as the girl stepped out at the back door. "Well, sir, thank you kindly, I think he's better; he talks stronger like, and he took a basin of hare soup to-day, well, that he did, and it was nice and strong." "Hare soup, eh?" said Oldroyd, with a queer look at Alleyne. "Yes, sir, hare soup; he said as how he was sick o' rabbits, and Caleb Kent kindly brought in a fine hare for him, and--" She stopped short, looking guiltily at the young doctor, and two red spots came in her yellow sunken cheeks.