My comrade is behind somewhere,—or possibly ahead of me. I got off my horse to look out for some game, but I have been unsuccessful."
At this point they both caught sight of a man riding one horse and leading another, off in the fields to one side of them, but, as he was taking the proper direction to the house, his friend made no effort to accost him.
"My father is not a practising physician," said Stella, feeling very much at her ease with this straightforward young gentleman. She was going on, when her companion said, regretfully,—
"I am exceedingly sorry. I only heard of him as Dr. Gray, and I so hoped he would come over and see our friend; but if, as you say, he doesn't practise"
"Oh, pray come and see him," said Stella. "I think he would certainly go; and I know he would be distressed if you went back. Besides, you are a long way from home, and you might lose your way if you attempted to return to-night."
"We are very ignorant about this country, I and my partners," answered the young man, smiling, "and I am afraid we have given proof of it by undertaking to ride over here so late and go back by moonlight. The distance does not amount to very much: the difficulty is in the risk of losing the way."
At this point they came up with the other man, who, having recognized his friend, had halted his horses and waited. He was not a little surprised when the two came near enough for him to get a distinct impression of Bertrand's companion.
"Ah, Estcott, you're ahead of me!" exclaimed Bertrand, coming up. "Allow me to present my friend Mr. Estcott, Miss Gray."
Mr. Estcott sprang from his horse, revealing a duplicate of his friend's costume, worn upon a very much smaller person, and as he doffed his white helmet Stella could dimly see an intelligent though plain face, with very dark eyes and hair and complexion.
Her acknowledgment of the introduction was civil, but rather hasty, and she immediately followed it by a request that they would fasten their horses and follow her into the house. On the porch they encountered Dr. Gray, to whom Stella at once consigned her two companions and passed on, vanishing within the wide old hall.
As soon as the visitors had briefly stated the object of their coming, Dr. Gray decided, almost without consulting them, that they were to stay where they were for the night. He promised to return with them in the morning and see their friend, saying he had been intending, ever since their arrival in the neighborhood, to call upon them, and had only been prevented by a stress of business from doing so before.
