pulled me up a little and patted my neck. "Well done, Beauty! good old
fellow," he said. He would have let me go slower, but my spirit was up,
and I was off again as fast as before. The air was frosty, the moon was
bright; it was very pleasant. We came through a village, then through a
dark wood, then uphill, then downhill, till after an eight miles' run,
we came to the town, through the streets and into the market-place. It
was all quite still except the clatter of my feet on the
stones--everybody was asleep. The church clock struck three as we drew
up at Dr. White's door. John rang the bell twice, and then knocked at
the door like thunder. A window was thrown up, and the doctor, in his
night-cap, put his head out and said, "What do you want?"

"Mrs. Gordon is very ill, sir; master wants you to go at once; he thinks
she will die if you cannot get there. Here is a note."

"Wait," he said, "I will come."

He shut the window and was soon at the door. "The worst of it is," he
said, "that my horse has been out all day, and is quite done up; my son
has just been sent for, and he has taken the other. What is to be done?
Can I have your horse?"

"He has come at a gallop nearly all the way, sir, and I was to give him
a rest here; but I think my master would not be against it, if you think
fit, sir."

"All right," he said; "I will soon be ready."

John stood by me and stroked my neck. I was very hot. The doctor came
out with his riding-whip. "You need not take that, sir," said John;