'
'The friend, I mean, with whom he is to make an expedition to some
distance, I think, and for some little time?'
'No,' said the Doctor, with a shake of his head.
'And who is he?'
'I really have not a notion, Miss.'
'Why, he said that _you knew_,' I replied.
The Doctor looked honestly puzzled.
'Will he stay long away? pray tell me.'
The Doctor looked into my troubled face with inquiring and darkened eyes,
like one who half reads another's meaning; and then he said a little
briskly, but not sharply--
'Well, _I_ don't know, I'm sure, Miss; no, indeed, you must have mistaken;
there's nothing that _I_ know.'
There was a little pause, and he added--
'No. He never mentioned any friend to me.' I fancied that he was made
uncomfortable by my question, and wanted to hide the truth. Perhaps I was
partly right.
'Oh! Doctor Bryerly, pray, _pray_ who is the friend, and where is he
going?'
'I do _assure_ you,' he said, with a strange sort of impatience, 'I don't
know; it is all nonsense.'
And he turned to go, looking, I think, annoyed and disconcerted.
A terrific suspicion crossed my brain like lightning.
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