es, yes; so I suppose," said the Doctor thoughtfully; "and you have
placed a problem before me, my boy, that I feel is as difficult to
resolve. I am very, very glad that you have kept it in your own breast,
Severn; and the more I think of it the more I feel that it is only an
intangible vapour of the brain. But, all the same, the matter is so
mysterious and so important that I should not be doing my duty if I did
not have the well examined."

"You will, sir?" cried the boy eagerly.

"Yes, Severn, I will," said the Doctor firmly, "and at once. But this
must be a private matter between us two. Let those who like consider
the act eccentric; I shall have it done, and I look to you to take no
one else into your confidence over the matter."

"No, sir; I'll not say a word," cried Glyn. "But,"--he
hesitated--"but--"

"Well, Severn; speak out."

"If it all turns out fancy, all imagination, sir, you will not be
angry?"

"No, Severn, not in the least," said the Doctor, smiling. "Now go and
send Wrench to me."

As he spoke the Doctor turned and rang, with the consequence that Glyn
met the footman in the passage coming to answer the bell, and half an
hour later, when the boy made it his business to casually stroll towards
the well-house, he heard voices, and on looking in found Wrench, who had
changed his livery for an old pair of trousers and vest, talking to the
gardener and making plans for the emptying of the well.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

THE DOCTOR'S DICTUM.

"It'd take a month," said the gardener, as Glyn was coming up. "Don't
tell me! Should think I know more about wells than you do. Fast as you
take a bucketful out another one runs in. You go and tell him that if
he means to have the old well emptied we shall want half-a-dozen men,
for we could never do it by oursens."

"Yah!" cried Wrench; "such fellows as you gardeners are. It's always
the same old tune: more help, more help.--Hear him, Mr Severn, sir? I
expect the water isn't so clear as it has been, and the Doctor says he
will have the well emptied and cleaned out.--Look here, Taters, you can
go and tell the Doctor that if you like; I am going to work."

"Oh, I shan't tell him," growled the gardener. "I aren't afraid of a
bit of wuck; only, mark my words, as I says again, it'd take a month."

The unusual task did not take a month; but after a hard day's toil so
little progress had been made, and Wrench's indoor work had come to such
a stan