“Send Bruff in,” said the doctor, sternly, and the next minute the gardener was heard rubbing his boots on the mat, and came into the hall, followed by the other servants.
“Well, Bruff,” said the doctor, in a short, stern way, “you have not found him?”
“No, sir, arn’t seen or heard nowt.”
“But he had been and left the medicine?”
“Nay, sir, not he. Nobody had seen nowt of him. He hadn’t been there.”
Aunt Hannah uttered a faint gasp.
“But didn’t you ask at either of the cottages as you passed?” asked the doctor sharply.
“Cottages, sir? Why, there arn’t none. I cut acrost the fields wherever I could, and the only plaace nigh is Candell’s farm—that’s quarter of a mile down a lane.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” said the doctor. “I had forgotten. Then you have brought no news at all?”
“Well, yes, sir; a bit as you may say.”