The doctor's eyes were lifted for an instant's scrutiny of the other's face as they passed a gas-lamp. Of late, a settled paleness had been stamped there. No immediate reply to the question came, but only another question—
"Is this true about Mrs. Stuart?"
"Crushed foot, yes. Within a hair's-breadth of having to lose it. I'm not quite sure yet!"
"Poor thing!" Mr. Wilmot said, in a half-abstracted manner.
"She's an oddity," the doctor said, stealing another glance. "A fussy sort of body, apparently."
"So much the more to be pitied. I must see her to-morrow."
"Yes, do. A nice little woman is there to-night—Mrs. Dunn. I haven't come across her before."
"The Dunns are new-comers. You have heard of the eldest girl, Nancy Dunn," added the clergyman abruptly. "She is the girl whom young Stuart saved from the mad dog."
"Ha! I thought I had some association with the name in my mind."
"That is it, of course. Nancy Dunn is one of the best and prettiest girls I know. I rather think our friend Archie Stuart is of the same opinion, from a few words I had with him this afternoon. But he seems to fear opposition from his mother."