"Well, Doctor, I shall be on horseback at six, so it is time for me to turn in," and taking his hat, walked across to his own bungalow.
The Doctor sat for some time smoking before he turned into bed.

He had as he had said, heard rumors, when Bathurst first came out, that he had shown the white feather, but he had paid little attention to it at the time.

They had been together at the first station to which Bathurst was appointed when he came out, and he had come to like him greatly; but his evident disinclination to join in any society, his absorption in his work, and a certain air of gravity unnatural in a young man of twenty, had puzzled him.

He had at the time come to the conclusion that he must have had some unfortunate love affair, or have got into some very serious trouble at home.

In time that impression had worn off.