"Hardly," said Dick contemptuously, "she's too sensible."
At this moment Job Kossiter entered the room, and, after slowly surveying the group, addressed himself to Reginald:
"If I may make so bold, Mr. Blake, sir," he said, in his thick voice, "would you ask the vicar to go to the old squire?"
"What's up?" asked Blake, rising.
"He's very ill, sir, as Munks says," said Kossiter, scratching his head, "and Doctor Bland, sir, he's ill, too, sir, and can't go, so as there ain't a doctor to see him, I thought the vicar----"
"Not a doctor?" interposed Beaumont, quickly. "Nonsense! This gentleman," indicating Nestley, "is a doctor, so he can go at once."
"Oh, I'll go," said Nestley, rising, rather glad of the opportunity to study the case.
"Then, sir, Munks is waiting outside with the cart," observed Kossiter, moving to the door.
"Who on earth is Munks?" asked Nestley, following the landlord.
"The squire's servant," cried Dick, "and a cross-grained old ass he is."