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change。 I had a notion once that my patient at the Inn might be a
natural son of Mr。 Holliday's； I had another idea that he might
also have been the man who was engaged to Arthur's first wife； and
I have a third idea； still clinging to me； that Mr。 Lorn is the
only man in England who could really enlighten me； if he chose； on
both those doubtful points。 His hair is not black； now； and his
eyes are dimmer than the piercing eyes that I remember； but； for
all that； he is very like the nameless medical student of my young
days … very like him。 And； sometimes； when I come home late at
night； and find him asleep； and wake him； he looks； in coming to；
wonderfully like the stranger at Doncaster； as he raised himself in
the bed on that memorable night！
The Doctor paused。 Mr。 Goodchild； who had been following every
word that fell from his lips up to this time； leaned forward
eagerly to ask a question。 Before he could say a word； the latch
of the door was raised； without any warning sound of footsteps in
the passage outside。 A long； white； bony hand appeared through the
opening； gently pushing the door； which was prevented from working
freely on its hinges by a fold in the carpet under it。
'That hand！ Look at that hand； Doctor！' said Mr。 Goodchild；
touching him。
At the same moment； the Doctor looked at Mr。 Goodchild； and
whispered to him； significantly：
'Hush！ he has come back。'
CHAPTER III
The Cumberland Doctor's mention of Doncaster Races； inspired Mr。
Francis Goodchild with the idea of going down to Doncaster to see
the races。 Doncaster being a good way off； and quite out of the
way of the Idle Apprentices （if anything could be out of their way；
who had no way）； it necessarily followed that Francis perceived
Doncaster in the race…week to be； of all possible idleness； the
particular idleness that would completely satisfy him。
Thomas； with an enforced idleness grafted on the natural and
voluntary power of his disposition； was not of this mind； objecting
that a man compelled to lie on his back on a floor； a sofa； a
table； a line of chairs； or anything he could get to lie upon； was
not in racing condition； and that he desired nothing better than to
lie where he was； enjoying himself in looking at the flies on the
ceiling。 But； Francis Goodchild； who had been walking round his
companion in a circuit of twelve miles for two days； and had begun
to doubt whether it was reserved for him ever to be idle in his
life； not only overpowered this objection； but even converted
Thomas Idle to a scheme he formed （another idle inspiration）； of
conveying the said Thomas to the sea…coast； and putting his injured
leg under a stream of salt…water。
Plunging into this happy conception headforemost； Mr。 Goodchild
immediately referred to the county…map； and ardently discovered
that the most delicious piece of sea…coast to be found within the
limits of England； Ireland； Scotland； Wales； the Isle of Man； and
the Channel Islands； all summed up together； was Allonby on the
coast of Cumberland。 There was the coast of Scotland opposite to
Allonby； said Mr。 Goodchild with enthusiasm； there was a fine
Scottish mountain on that Scottish coast； there were Scottish
lights to be seen shining across the glorious Channel； and at
Allonby itself there was every idle luxury （no doubt） that a
watering…place could offer to the heart of idle man。 Moreover；
said Mr。 Goodchild； with his finger on the map； this exquisite
retreat was approached by a coach…road； from a railway…station
called Aspatria … a name； in a manner； suggestive of the departed
glories of Greece； associated with one of the most engaging and
most famous of Greek women。 On this point； Mr。 Goodchild continued
at intervals to breathe a vein of classic fancy and eloquence
exceedingly irksome to Mr。 Idle； until it appeared that the honest
English pronunciation of that Cumberland country shortened Aspatria
into 'Spatter。' After this supplementary discovery； Mr。 Goodchild
said no more about it。
By way of Spatter； the crippled Idle was carried； hoisted； pushed；
poked； and packed； into and out of carriages； into and out of beds；
into and out of tavern resting…places； until he was brought at
length within sniff of the sea。 And now； behold the apprentices
gallantly riding into Allonby in a one…horse fly； bent upon staying
in that peaceful marine valley until the turbulent Doncaster time
shall come round upon the wheel； in its turn among what are in
sporting registers called the 'Fixtures' for the month。
'Do you see Allonby！' asked Thomas Idle。
'I don't see it yet；' said Francis； looking out of window。
'It must be there；' said Thomas Idle。
'I don't see it；' returned Francis。
'It must be there；' repeated Thomas Idle； fretfully。
'Lord bless me！' exclaimed Francis； drawing in his head； 'I suppose
this is it！'
'A watering…place；' retorted Thomas Idle； with the pardonable
sharpness of an invalid； 'can't be five gentlemen in straw hats； on
a form on one side of a door； and four ladies in hats and falls； on
a form on another side of a door； and three geese in a dirty little
brook before them； and a boy's legs hanging over a bridge （with a
boy's body I suppose on the other side of the parapet）； and a
donkey running away。 What are you talking about？'
'Allonby； gentlemen；' said the most comfortable of landladies as
she opened one door of the carriage； 'Allonby； gentlemen；' said the
most attentive of landlords； as he opened the other。
Thomas Idle yielded his arm to the ready Goodchild； and descended
from the vehicle。 Thomas； now just able to grope his way along； in
a doubled…up condition； with the aid of two thick sticks； was no
bad embodiment of Commodore Trunnion； or of one of those many
gallant Admirals of the stage； who have all ample fortunes； gout；
thick sticks； tempers； wards； and nephews。 With this distinguished
naval appearance upon him； Thomas made a crab…like progress up a
clean little bulk…headed staircase； into a clean little bulk…headed
room； where he slowly deposited himself on a sofa； with a stick on
either hand of him； looking exceedingly grim。
'Francis；' said Thomas Idle； 'what do you think of this place？'
'I think；' returned Mr。 Goodchild； in a glowing way； 'it is
everything we expected。'
'Hah！' said Thomas Idle。
'There is the sea；' cried Mr。 Goodchild； pointing out of window；
'and here；' pointing to the lunch on the table； 'are shrimps。 Let
us … ' here Mr。 Goodchild looked out of window； as if in search of
something； and looked in again； … 'let us eat 'em。'
The shrimps eaten and the dinner ordered； Mr。 Goodchild went out to
survey the watering…place。 As Chorus of the Drama； without whom
Thomas could make nothing of the scenery； he by…and…by returned； to
have the following report screwed out of him。
In brief； it was the most delightful place ever seen。