By this extraordinary question—delivered, as it was, in a manner that called imperatively for an answer—Martha Jutt was quite nonplussed: as the doctor had intended she should be.
“What’s what?” repeated the doctor.
Quite startled, Martha lifted the letter from her lap. “He’s not comin’, zur,” she gasped, for lack of something better.
“You’re disappointed, I see,” said the doctor. “So he’s not coming?”
“That’s too bad. But you mustn’t mind it, you know—not for an instant. What’s the matter with him?”
“He’ve broke his leg, zur.”
“What!” cried the doctor, restored of a sudden to his natural manner. “Poor fellow! How did he come to do that?”
“Catchin’ one o’ they wild deer, zur.”
“Catching a deer!” the doctor exclaimed. “A most extraordinary thing. He was a fool to try it. How long ago?”