The adulteress

"I'll take Mistress Ransome back to the Court and then I'll come back."

"That's kind of you," I said, "but there's no need."

"It's not a need ... just a pleasure," said the doctor smiling at me.

His horse was in the stables, and he walked it out to where I had tethered mine.

"You will come over again and see us, won't you?" he said.

"You mean at Enderby. Yes, certainly. I did enjoy being there this afternoon. Your brother and his wife are charming."

"A perfect example of the pleasures of matrimony," he said lightly. I looked at him quickly for I thought I detected a cynical twist of his lips. I wondered about him as I realized I had been doing during the afternoon. Had he a wife? He was not young. He must have been in his early forties ... a few years older than I was.

"Very pleasant to be with," I said.

"Yes, Derek was lucky. Isabel is a delightful person."

"I gathered so. It is amazing what they have done for the house. It was such a gloomy old place. Now it seems quite different."

"It had quite a reputation, I believe. They had great trouble in getting servants at first. It's different now. Isabel soon showed them that Enderby was a very happy place to work in."

"You're very fond of her."

"Who wouldn't be?"

"And you have a house in the town?"

"Yes, with the practice."

"Do you enjoy living here?"

He hesitated. "It's not the best spot for a doctor to flourish. It's too sparsely populated. One's patients are too scattered; but it does have the advantage of being near a hospital in which I am interested—and Derek and Isabel, of course."

"And I expect you are there a good deal."

"I practically live there. There is always a welcome and if I don't appear for a few days I am severely reprimanded."

"That must be very pleasant for you."

"It is," he said.

We had come to the Court. I said good-bye to Dr. Forster and he expressed hope that we should meet again, which I endorsed.

As I turned to ride toward the stable I saw Jessie. I guessed she was just returning from her visit to Amos Carew.

She was staring after Dr. Forster, who had turned his horse and was riding back to Enderby.

Jessie followed me into the stables; her face was very red, which may have been due to the exertion of walking.

"I saw you riding with ... your friend... ."

"My friend? Oh, you mean Dr. Forster."

"I didn't know you knew him... ."

"I didn't till this afternoon."

I saw that her hand was trembling slightly. She seemed somewhat out of breath.

"Oh," she said. "You met him for the first time."

I suddenly realized that she was putting me through a cross-examination, which I resented. I dismounted and one of the grooms took my horse.

I smiled coolly at Jessie and walked so fast toward the house that she couldn't keep up with me.

As I entered the hall one of the maids came running down. "Oh, mistress," she said, "there's a visitor."

"Who is it?" I asked.

By that time Jessie came puffing up behind me, and the maid immediately addressed herself to her.

"He's come to stay for a while, mistress," she said.

"Who? Who?" cried Jessie. I had never before seen her so agitated.

At that moment Dickon appeared at the top of the staircase. He cried: "Hello ..." and came running down.

I stared at him—no less aghast than Jessie.

He was smiling at me. "They insisted that I come," he said. "They seemed to think you needed looking after."

I was shocked and angry. My dislike of him was as great as it had ever been.

Jessie had recovered herself. "I must go and see about getting a room ready for you. And are you hungry?" ^*.

"Very," said Dickon showing his teeth in a grin.

He was aware of my feelings and was enjoying the situation.

At supper, which was taken at six, Dickon was very talkative. Dr. Cabel joined us, and Jessie, in view of her very special position in the household, as usual sat with us.

She had got over her dismay and was very affable to Dickon. The doctor seemed pleased to see him too.

Dickon said: "I was simply badgered to come. Zipporah's mother was so worried about her ewe lamb traveling alone."

"It was hardly alone ... with seven grooms."

"Well, she considers it alone if you are not with a member of the family. T shan't have a moment's peace," she said, "until I know you are there to take care of my little girl."

"Really, Dickon, you're talking nonsense."

"Or words to that effect," he said. "So I simply could do nothing but gather together a little baggage and come along. I wanted to, you know. I wanted so much to see the place again. I'm longing to explore. What was the name of that wonderful manager?"

"Amos Carew," I said.

"Oh, old Amos. He's still here, I hope."

"Yes," said Jessie. "He's still here."

"He and I became very great friends," went on Dickon. "I shall go and see him tomorrow and get him to take me round the estate again."

"He'll be that pleased," said Jessie.

"And poor Eversleigh is not so well?"

"He's as well as can be expected," said Dr. Cabel, "after a seizure such as he has had."

"And he is so lucky to have you here, Dr. Cabel."

"I am glad to do all I can for an old friend."