The doctor had reached them soon after they arrived at the cottage, two of the bearers having been stationed upon high points to intercept him should he take any other track, and after his examination he had removed one horror from Dinah's breast. For he declared the injury to be the result of a fall, and hence it was not through some furious encounter between brothers--a fratricidal strife. But the fall, he declared, was not the sole trouble. There was fever, brain fever, and when pressed as to the result, he only shook his head, wisely, and said-- "We shall see--we shall see." Then in obedience to a letter from the Major, Doctor Praed had come down, to enter the cottage fussy, tired, and irritable. "Most unreasonable, Major Gurdon, to bring me down to this out-of-the-way desert to see Clive Reed. Hang him, and his brother too. They've been the curse of my life. Dozens of important patients waiting for me, and I leave them to come down here to see this boy. Hang him, and his father too, sir. I wish I had never seen them. Ruined me--almost, and I'm very glad the mine has turned out a failure, after all." "I am afraid you are a little tired with your journey, sir!" said the Major stiffly. "Tired, sir! I don't seem to have a bone left. Of course, I'm tired. How a sane man could ever come and live in such an out-of-the-way spot, I don't know." "A very peaceful spot, sir, for a heart-sore man," said the Major coldly. "I will ask you to come and see the patient as soon as you feel refreshed." At that moment the door opened, and Dinah, looking pale, subdued, and anxious, appeared. The Doctor started from his seat. "Dinah, my child," said the Major, "Clive Reed's godfather, Doctor Praed. Can he come up now?" The Doctor advanced, and took her hands, raised them one by one to his lips, and then letting them fall, he took her in his arms and kissed her forehead reverently. "God bless you, my dear!" he said, in a softened voice. "So you are his tender nurse. It is you whom he spoke of as her who had made him think the world was not all bad. Hah, yes," he continued, looking at her curiously, "the face of an angel. Major Gurdon, forgive my petulance. Getting old, sir. Tired and worried. I'm very glad you sent for me. Clive is my own dear boy. I always looked upon him as a son. There, I'm only an ignorant man, my dear," he continued, turning to Dinah with a pitiful smile on his face, "but with God's help and yours, he shall ask me to his wedding yet. I'll come and claim the first kiss from her who is going to help me try and save his life. Hah! now I feel ready to go to work. As for the other patients, Major, there are plenty of doctors in town. I'm going to stop here with my boy Clive." The tears coursed rapidly down Dinah's cheeks as she listened, while Doctor Praed patted the hand he held, and smiled.