"I can't believe you."
"That is both rude and unnecessary," retorted Browne, the veins swelling in his high forehead. "But I quite see that you cannot grasp my meaning. It is useless to explain. Good-day," and Browne turned on his heel sharply, leaving Trent furious at being thus addressed. The hide of your Jack-in-Office is extremely thin.
Left behind, Dr. Browne turned his attention to a meal, after which he decided to visit the sick woman in the caravan. In spite of Mrs. Narby's masculine exterior, she was feminine enough to have an attack of nerves, owing to recent events. Dr. Browne won her gratitude, as much as she was able to spare, by prescribing for her, and as he announced his intention of stopping at the inn for the night, on the chance of meeting again with Herries, the landlady, before retiring to bed, gave him the stuffy parlour to eat in, the bedroom of Herries to sleep in, and ordered Elspeth to attend on him. Consequently Dr. Browne found himself devouring a badly cooked meal in the parlour somewhere about six o'clock, and within half an hour of Trent's departure.
Elspeth waited on him, and cast furtive glances at him, as she was aware that he was her hero's friend, and indeed had heard the doctor champion the accused man. Browne, sensitive as a woman to occult influences, became aware that she wanted to speak to him, but feared to do so, by reason, as he thought, of shyness.
"Well," he said abruptly, when she brought him a cup of coffee.
"Yes, sir," said Elspeth, with a start.
"You wish to speak to me."
"I don't know why you----"
"But I know. You have been watching me closely. You sent the telegram, and know that I am Herries' friend. You are his friend likewise, why I don't know, and you wish to speak about him."
"I am his friend," said the girl steadily, "because he is the first human being who has been kind to me. There is nothing I would not do for him."