do, doctor?' said he. 'What terrible bad roads you have here! and, upon my word, it's as cold as winter:' and, so saying, he slowly proceeded to descend.
Sir Louis was a year older than when we last saw him, and, in his generation, a year wiser. He had then been somewhat humble before the doctor; but now he was determined to let his guardian see that he knew how to act the baronet; that he had acquired the manners of a great man; and that he was not to be put upon. He had learnt some lessons from Jenkins, in London, and other friends of the same sort, and he was about to profit by them.
The doctor showed him to his room, and then proceeded to ask after his health. 'Oh, I'm right enough,' said Sir Louis. 'You mustn't believe all that fellow Greyson tells you: he wants me to take his salts and senna, opodeldoc, and all that sort of stuff; looks after his bill, you know—eh? like all the rest of you. But I won't have it;—not at any price; and then he writes to you.'
'I'm glad to see you able to travel,' said Dr. Thorne, who could not force himself to tell his guest that he was glad to see him at Greshamsbury.
'Oh, travel; yes, I can travel well enough. But I wish you had some better sort of trap down in these country parts. I'm shaken to bits. And, doctor, would you tell your people to send that fellow of mine up here with hot water.'
So dismissed, the doctor went his way, and met Joe swaggering in one of the passages, while Janet and her colleague dragged along between them a heavy article of baggage.
'Janet,' said he, 'go down stairs and get Sir Louis some hot water, and, Joe, do you take hold of your master's portmanteau.'
Joe sulkily did as he was bid. 'Seems to me,' said he, turning to the girl, and speaking before the doctor was out of hearing, 'seems to me, my dear, you be rather short-handed here; lots of work and nothing to get; that's about the ticket, 'ain't it?' Bridget was too demurely modest to make any answer upon so short an acquaintance; so, putting her end of the burden down at the strange gentleman's door, she retreated into the kitchen.
Sir Louis, in answer to the doctor's inquiries, had declared himself to be all right; but his appearance was anything but all right. Twelve months since, a life of dissipation, or rather, perhaps, a life of drinking, had not had upon him so strong an effect but that some of the salt of youth was still left; some of the freshness of young years might still be seen in his face. But this was now all gone; his eyes were sunken and watery, his cheeks were hollow and wan, his mouth was drawn and his lips
