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iridectomies and extractions upon the sheep's eyes sent in by the village
butcher； to the horror of his housekeeper； who had to remove the debris
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next morning。 His love for his work was the one fanaticism which found
a place in his dry； precise nature。
It was the more to his credit that he should keep up to date in his
knowledge； since he had no competition to force him to exertion。 In the
seven years during which he had practised in Hoyland three rivals had
pitted themselves against him； two in the village itself and one in the
neighbouring hamlet of Lower Hoyland。 Of these one had sickened and
wasted； being； as it was said； himself the only patient whom he had treated
during his eighteen months of ruralising。 A second had bought a fourth
share of a Basingstoke practice； and had departed honourably； while a
third had vanished one September night； leaving a gutted house and an
unpaid drug bill behind him。 Since then the district had become a
monopoly； and no one had dared to measure himself against the
established fame of the Hoyland doctor。
It was； then； with a feeling of some surprise and considerable curiosity
that on driving through Lower Hoyland one morning he perceived that the
new house at the end of the village was occupied； and that a virgin brass
plate glistened upon the swinging gate which faced the high road。 He
pulled up his fifty guinea chestnut mare and took a good look at it。
〃Verrinder Smith； M。 D。；〃 was printed across it in very neat； small
lettering。 The last man had had letters half a foot long； with a lamp like a
fire… station。 Dr。 James Ripley noted the difference； and deduced from it
that the new…comer might possibly prove a more formidable opponent。
He was convinced of it that evening when he came to consult the current
medical directory。 By it he learned that Dr。 Verrinder Smith was the
holder of superb degrees； that he had studied with distinction at Edinburgh；
Paris； Berlin； and Vienna； and finally that he had been awarded a gold
medal and the Lee Hopkins scholarship for original research； in
recognition of an exhaustive inquiry into the functions of the anterior
spinal nerve roots。 Dr。 Ripley passed his fingers through his thin hair in
bewilderment as he read his rival's record。 What on earth could so
brilliant a man mean by putting up his plate in a little Hampshire hamlet。
But Dr。 Ripley furnished himself with an explanation to the riddle。
No doubt Dr。 Verrinder Smith had simply come down there in order to
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pursue some scientific research in peace and quiet。 The plate was up as
an address rather than as an invitation to patients。 Of course； that must
be the true explanation。 In that case the presence of this brilliant
neighbour would be a splendid thing for his own studies。 He had often
longed for some kindred mind； some steel on which he might strike his
flint。 Chance had brought it to him； and he rejoiced exceedingly。
And this joy it was which led him to take a step which was quite at
variance with his usual habits。 It is the custom for a new…comer among
medical men to call first upon the older； and the etiquette upon the subject
is strict。 Dr。 Ripley was pedantically exact on such points； and yet he
deliberately drove over next day and called upon Dr。 Verrinder Smith。
Such a waiving of ceremony was； he felt； a gracious act upon his part； and
a fit prelude to the intimate relations which he hoped to establish with his
neighbour。
The house was neat and well appointed； and Dr。 Ripley was shown by
a smart maid into a dapper little consulting room。 As he passed in he
noticed two or three parasols and a lady's sun bonnet hanging in the hall。
It was a pity that his colleague should be a married man。 It would put
them upon a different footing； and interfere with those long evenings of
high scientific talk which he had pictured to himself。 On the other hand；
there was much in the consulting room to please him。 Elaborate
instruments； seen more often in hospitals than in the houses of private
practitioners； were scattered about。 A sphygmograph stood upon the
table and a gasometer…like engine； which was new to Dr。 Ripley； in the
corner。 A book…case full of ponderous volumes in French and German；
paper…covered for the most part； and varying in tint from the shell to the
yoke of a duck's egg； caught his wandering eyes； and he was deeply
absorbed in their titles when the door opened suddenly behind him。
Turning round； he found himself facing a little woman； whose plain； palish
face was remarkable only for a pair of shrewd； humorous eyes of a blue
which had two shades too much green in it。 She held a pince…nez in her
left hand； and the doctor's card in her right。
〃How do you do； Dr。 Ripley？ 〃 said she。
〃How do you do； madam？〃 returned the visitor。 〃Your husband is
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perhaps out？〃
〃I am not married；〃 said she simply。
〃Oh； I beg your pardon！ I meant the doctorDr。 Verrinder Smith。〃
〃I am Dr。 Verrinder Smith。〃
Dr。 Ripley was so surprised that he dropped his hat and forgot to pick
it up again。
〃What！〃 he grasped； 〃the Lee Hopkins prizeman！ You！〃
He had never seen a woman doctor before； and his whole conservative
soul rose up in revolt at the idea。 He could not recall any Biblical
injunction that the man should remain ever the doctor and the woman the
nurse； and yet he felt as if a blasphemy had been committed。 His face
betrayed his feelings only too clearly。
〃I am sorry to disappoint you；〃 said the lady drily。