The Colonel is writing a letter to his old doctor, saying very kindly and politely that he wants to ask the new doctor in town to see Adela. The letter is sent and the Colonel and John go to find the new doctor.
Now they have heard the rumors that the new doctor, Dr. Armstrong, wears hiking gear in order to take short-cuts through the fields whenever there is an emergency. But they have also heard reports of Dr. Armstrong's kind and careful treatment of his patients.
They meet Dr. Armstrong at his house in the town, and John is surprised to see it is none other than the young man he had seen watching Adela in church. The doctor promises to come and see Adela. He asks however that he be allowed to observe her in a normal setting first, not as a patient. The Colonel agrees to this and invites Dr. Armstrong to dinner.
At dinner, John notices that Percy does not seem to like Dr. Armstrong very much. After dinner they retire to the drawing room, and the doctor asks Adela if she will sing for them. Adela says she would rather not. Doctor Armstrong then surprises everyone by offering to play the piano and sing for Adela.
He plays the piano and sings a song about a man who is not comforted by the bright sun, or the strong wind, or even the kind night sky, but can only show his face to the one who is with us. The doctor goes home, and the Colonel is unsure whether he will be of any help to Adela, but John thinks differently.
