blue vault of heaven, and then went into the shed.

It was to be a morning of excitements. As he was leaving an hour
or so later, Whacker, the younger of the other two physicians, joined
him - an unprecedented condescension this, for hitherto neither of
them had addressed him beyond an occasional and surly "good-day!"

"If you are for Colonel Bishop's, I'll walk with you a little way,
Doctor Blood," said he. He was a short, broad man of five-and-forty
with pendulous cheeks and hard blue eyes.

Peter Blood was startled. But he dissembled it.

"I am for Government House," said he.

"Ah! To be sure! The Governor's lady." And he laughed; or perhaps
he sneered. Peter Blood was not quite certain. "She encroaches a
deal upon your time, I hear. Youth and good looks, Doctor Blood!
Youth and good looks! They are inestimable advantages in our
profession as in others - particularly where the ladies are
concerned."

Peter stared at him. "If you mean what you seem to mean, you had
better say it to Governor Steed. It may amuse him."

"You surely misapprehend me."

"I hope so."

"You're so very hot, now!" The doctor linked his arm through Peter's.