"I think so," Dick answered thoughtfully.
After breakfast the doctor devoted an hour to the patients who came to his surgery for advice. When the last had gone, he was ready to start on his morning round; and Dick, much to his delight, found he was to accompany him as had been promised.
As they drove down the narrow street the villagers came to their doors to gaze with curious, interested eyes at the stranger.
"Why, Uncle Theophilus, you know every one! Dick exclaimed as the doctor nodded to one person, then to another.
"You see, Dick, I have lived most of my life in this place, and I know every man, woman, and child for miles around. That's Cripps, the grocer, standing there in the doorway of his shop. That's the post-office, that little house with the porch all covered with honeysuckle; and there's Miss Tidy, the post-mistress, peeping out over the wire blind."
"Miss Tidy," Dick echoed, laughing. "What a funny name, and what a funny face!"
He spoke truly, for Miss Tidy was the possessor of a wide mouth, a tip-tilted nose, and a pair of round, green eyes that took notice of every one and everything. The post-mistress had not a great deal of work at Holton, so, often, when she found time hanging heavy on her hands, she employed herself with business concerning her neighbours.
The doctor required some stamps, so he drew up in front of the post-office; whereupon Miss Tidy came running out.
"Don't get down, I beg, Dr. Warren!" she cried, in a high, somewhat shrill voice. "What can I get for you? Stamps? Postal orders? A lovely day, is it not? Is this young gentleman the one you've been expecting from India?"
"Yes," Dr. Warren answered briefly, whilst Dick flushed as the sharp green eyes of the post-mistress scanned his face. "I will trouble you for a shilling's worth of penny stamps, if you please."