' That's a
woman, Doctor, an' ef any o' the genteel sex sets foot on Kit's beach
I'll--I'll _stone_ her."
The Doctor gave way in the end and withdrew, promising another visit
before evening. When he returned, however, at five in the afternoon,
he found, with some wonder, a woman quietly installed in the
sick-room. It happened thus:--
Barely an hour after the Doctor's departure, Caleb, sitting at his
master's bedside, heard footsteps on the gravel walk, and looked out
of window.
"Hist!" he called softly; and Peter Dearlove, followed by Paul,
stepped round the angle of the house into sight. The Twins
bore a look of the gravest perplexity and a large market basket.
"Hulloa!" said Caleb, "what's up?"
The pair looked at each other. At length Peter began with a serious
face and unwonted formality of tone--
"Es Mr. Fogo wi'in?"
"Why, iss," Caleb allowed, "he's inside."
"We was a-wishin' to request o' the pleasure"--here Peter looked at
Paul, who nodded--"the pleasure o' an interval o' five minnits."
"Interview," corrected Paul.
"I misdoubts," answered his brother, "that you are wrong, Paul.
I remember the expresshun 'pon the programme o' a Sleight o' Hand
Entertainment, an' there et said 'Interval'--'An Interval o' Five
Minnits.'"
"Ef that's so," broke in Caleb from above with fine irony, "p'raps
you wudn' mind handin' up your visitin' cards an' doin' the thing
proper.
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