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another of the trivial incidents of the day brought Allan and Mr。
Hawbury together again； and helpedwhether happily or not； yet
remained to be seento strengthen the acquaintance between them
on either side。
The 〃bar〃 of the hotel was situated at one end of the passage；
and the landlady was in attendance there； mixing a glass of
liquor for the doctor； who had just looked in for a little
gossip。 On Allan's asking permission to make a third in the
drinking and the gossiping； Mr。 Hawbury civilly handed him the
glass which the landlady had just filled。 It contained cold
brandy…and…water。 A marked change in Allan's face； as he suddenly
drew back and asked for whisky instead； caught the doctor's
medical eye。 〃A case of nervous antipathy；〃 said Mr。 Hawbury；
quietly taking the glass away again。 The remark obliged Allan to
acknowledge that he had an insurmountable loathing （which he was
foolish enough to be a little ashamed of mentioning） to the smell
and taste of brandy。 No matter with what diluting liquid the
spirit was mixed； the presence of it； instantly detected by his
organs of taste and smell； turned him sick and faint if the drink
touched his lips。 Starting from this personal confession； the
talk turned on antipathies in general； and the doctor
acknowledged； on his side； that he took a professional interest
in the subject； and that he possessed a collection of curious
cases at home； which his new acquaintance was welcome to look at；
if Allan had nothing else to do that evening； and if he would
call； when the medical work of the day was over； in an hour's
time。
Cordially accepting the invitation （which was extended to
Midwinter also； if he cared to profit by it）； Allan returned to
the coffee…room to look after his friend。 Half asleep and half
awake； Midwinter was still stretched on the sofa； with the local
newspaper just dropping out of his languid hand。
〃I heard your voice in the passage；〃 he said； drowsily。 〃Whom
were you talking to？〃
〃The doctor；〃 replied Allan。 〃I am going to smoke a cigar with
him； in an hour's time。 Will you come too？〃
Midwinter assented with a weary sigh。 Always shyly unwilling to
make new acquaintances； fatigue increased the reluctance he now
felt to become Mr。 Hawbury's guest。 As matters stood； however；
there was no alternative but to go； for； with Allan's
constitutional imprudence； there was no safely trusting him alone
anywhere； and more especially in a stranger's house。 Mr。 Brock
would certainly not have left his pupil to visit the doctor
alone； and Midwinter was still nervously conscious that he
occupied Mr。 Brock's place。
〃What shall we do till it's time to go？〃 asked Allan； looking
about him。 〃Anything in this？〃 he added； observing the fallen
newspaper； and picking it up from the floor。
〃I'm too tired to look。 If you find anything interesting； read it
out；〃 said Midwinter； thinking that the reading might help to
keep him awake。
Part of the newspaper； and no small part of it； was devoted to
extracts from books recently published in London。 One of the
works most largely laid under contribution in this manner was of
the sort to interest Allan： it was a highly spiced narrative of
Traveling Adventures in the wilds of Australia。 Pouncing on an
extract which described the sufferings of the traveling…party；
lost in a trackless wilderness； and in danger of dying by thirst；
Allan announced that he had found something to make his friend's
flesh creep； and began eagerly to read the passage aloud。
Resolute not to sleep； Midwinter followed the progress of the
adve nture； sentence by sentence； without missing a word。 The
consultation of the lost travelers； with death by thirst staring
them in the face； the resolution to press on while their strength
lasted； the fall of a heavy shower； the vain efforts made to
catch the rainwater； the transient relief experienced by sucking
their wet clothes； the sufferings renewed a few hours after； the
night advance of the strongest of the party； leaving the weakest
behind； the following a flight of birds when morning dawned； the
discovery by the lost men of the broad pool of water that saved
their livesall this Midwinter's fast…failing attention mastered
painfully； Allan's voice growing fainter and fainter on his ear
with every sentence that was read。 Soon the next words seemed to
drop away gently； and nothing but the slowly sinking sound of the
voice was left。 Then the light in the room darkened gradually；
the sound dwindled into delicious silence； and the last waking
impressions of the weary Midwinter came peacefully to an end。
The next event of which he was conscious was a sharp ringing at
the closed door of the hotel。 He started to his feet； with the
ready alacrity of a man whose life has accustomed him to wake at
the shortest notice。 An instant's look round showed him that the
room was empty； and a glance at his watch told him that it was
close on midnight。 The noise made by the sleepy servant in
opening the door； and the tread the next moment of quick
footsteps in the passage； filled him with a sudden foreboding of
something wrong。 As he hurriedly stepped forward to go out and
make inquiry； the door of the coffee…room opened； and the doctor
stood before him。
〃I am sorry to disturb you；〃 said Mr。 Hawbury。 〃Don't be alarmed；
there's nothing wrong。〃
〃Where is my friend？〃 asked Midwinter。
〃At the pier head；〃 answered the doctor。 〃I am； to a certain
extent； responsible for what he is doing now； and I think some
careful person； like yourself； ought to be with him。〃
The hint was enough for Midwinter。 He and the doctor set out for
the pier immediately； Mr。 Hawbury mentioning on the way the
circumstances under which he had come to the hotel。
Punctual to the appointed hour Allan had made his appearance at
the doctor's house； explaining that he had left his weary friend
so fast asleep on the sofa that he had not had the heart to wake
him。 The evening had passed pleasantly； and the conversation had
turned on many subjects； until； in an evil hour； Mr。 Hawbury had
dropped a hint which showed that he was fond of sailing； and that
he possessed a pleasure…boat of his own in the harbor。 Excited on
the instant by his favorite topic； Allan had left his host no
hospitable alternative but to take him to the pier head and show
him the boat。 The beauty of the night and the softness of the
breeze had done the rest of the mischief； they had filled Allan
with irresistible longings for a sail by moonlight。 Prevented
from accompanying his guest by professional hindrances which
obliged him to remain on shore； the doctor； not knowing what else
to do； had ventured on disturbing Midwinter； rather than take the
responsibility of allowing Mr。 Armadale （no matter how well he
might be accustomed to the sea） to set off on a sailing trip at
midnight entirely by himself。
The time taken to make this explanation brought Midwinter and the
doctor to the pier head。 There； sure enough； was young Armadale
in the boat； hoisting the sail； and singing the sailor's
〃Yo…heave…ho！〃 at the top of his voice。
〃Come along； old boy！〃 cried Allan。 〃You're just in time for a
frolic b