this morning between here and the mill village."

"Indeed," said the doctor; "you passed each other, I suppose."

"Well, no; I can't say we did exactly," said Mr. Holden, with the same
unpleasant smile, "We tried to, but the road being narrow, there was a
collision, and I came off second-best."

"I hope there was no accident."

"Oh, nothing to speak of. I got tipped out, and my clothes, as you may
observe, suffered some. As for my young friend here, he rode on
uninjured."

"You must excuse my not stopping to inquire if I could help you," said
Herbert; "but my horse was frightened by the collision, and I could not
easily stop him."

"Oh, it's of no consequence," said Mr. Holden, in an off-hand manner. He
was determined not to show himself out in his true colors until he had
got Herbert absolutely under his control.

"But where is your horse, Mr. Holden?" asked Captain Ross. "I think you
were walking when you came to my house."

"I sent it back to the village by a man I met on the road, my buggy
being disabled."

"Your carriage wasn't much injured, I hope."