be as frank as you are, Miss Gunn. As you say, 'of course' I
understand that any apparent welcome which you extend to me is entirely
for Mrs. Little's sake; and that it is sorely against your will that you
have been obliged to speak to me; and that it is solely in my capacity
as physician that I am asked to sleep under your roof to-night; and I
beg your pardon for saying that I accept the invitation in that
capacity, and no other, solely because I believe it will be for the
interest of my patient that I do so. Good morning, Miss Gunn," and, as
at that moment they reached the house, Dr. Eben bowed again as
ceremoniously as before, sprang up the piazza steps, and ran up the
staircase, two steps at a time, to Sally's room. Hetty stood still in
the doorway: she felt herself discomfited. She was half angry, half
amused. She did not like what the doctor had said; but she admitted to
herself that it was precisely what she would have said in his place.

"I don't blame him," she thought, "I don't blame him a bit; but, it is
horridly disagreeable. I don't see how we're ever to get on; and it is
so provoking, for, if he were anybody else, we'd be real good friends.
He isn't in the least what I thought he was. I hope he won't come over
before tea. It would be awkward enough. But then, he's got to take all
his meals with us at 'The Runs.' Oh, dear!" and Hetty went about her
preparations for the journey, with feelings by no means of unalloyed
pleasure.

No danger of Dr. Eben's coming before tea. It was very late when he
appeared, valise in hand, and said in a formal tone to Hetty, who met
him at the door, in fact had been nervously watching for him for four
whole hours:

"I am very sorry to see you still up, Miss Gunn. I ought to have
recollected to tell you that I should not be here until late: I have
been saying good-by to my patients. Will you have the kindness to let me
be shown to my room?" and like a very courteous traveller, awaiting a
landlady's pleasure, he stood at foot of the stairs.

With some confusion of manner, and in a constrained tone, unlike her
usual cheery voice, Hetty replied:

"The next door to Sally's, doctor." She wished to say something more,
but she could not think of a word.

"What a fool I am!" she mentally ejaculated, as the doctor, with a hasty
"good-night," entered his room. "What a fool I am to let him make me so
uncomfortable. I don't see what it is. I wish I hadn't asked him to
go."

"That