My aunt and I established ourselves in comfortable apartments, with a letter of introduction to the chief doctor in the place.

This otherwise harmless and worthy man proved, strangely enough, to be the innocent cause of the trials and troubles which beset me at the outset of my new life.
The day after we had presented our letter of introduction, we met the doctor on the public walk.

He was accompanied by two strangers, both young men, and both (so far as my ignorant opinion went) persons of some distinction, judging by their dress and manners.

The doctor said a few kind words to us, and rejoined his two companions.

Both the gentlemen looked at me, and both took off their hats as my aunt and I proceeded on our walk.
I own I thought occasionally of the well-bred strangers during the rest of the day, especially of the shortest of the two, who was also the handsomest of the two to my thinking.