ular to do to-morrow--why shouldn't we get the
marriage license?" Would he put it in that way? No: he made a proposal
of quite another kind. He said, "You seem to be fond of stories. Suppose
I tell you a story?"

Perhaps, there was some hidden meaning in this. There was unquestionably
a sudden alteration in his look and manner; the cook asked herself what
it meant.

If she had seen the doctor at his secret work in the laboratory, the
change in him might have put her on her guard. He was now looking
(experimentally) at the inferior creature seated before him in the
chair, as he looked (experimentally) at the other inferior creatures
stretched under him on the table.

His story began in the innocent, old-fashioned way.

"Once upon a time, there was a master and there was a maid. We will call
the master by the first letter of the alphabet--Mr. A. And we will call
the maid by the second letter--Miss B."

The cook drew a long breath of relief. There _was_ a hidden meaning in
the doctor's story. The unfortunate woman thought to herself, "I have
not only got fine hair and a beautiful complexion; I am clever as well!"
On her rare evenings of liberty, she sometimes gratified another highly
creditable taste, besides the taste for reading novels. She was an eager
play-goer. That notable figure in the drama--the man who tells his own
story, under pretence of telling the story of another person--was no
unfamiliar figure in her stage experience. Her encouraging smile made
its modest appearance once more. In the very beginning of her master's
story, she saw already the happy end.

"We all of us have our troubles in life," Benjulia went on; "and Miss B.
had her troubles. For a long time, she was out of a situation; and
she had no kind parents to help her. Miss B. was an orphan. Her little
savings were almost gone."

It was too distressing. The cook took out her handkerchief, and pitied
Miss B. with all her heart.

The doctor proceeded.

"But virtue, as we know when we read 'Pamela,' is sure of its reward.
Circumstances occurred in the household of Mr. A. which made it
necessary for him to engage a cook. He discovered an advertisement in a
newspaper, which informed him that Miss B. was in search of a situation.
Mr. A. found her to be a young and charming woman. Mr. A. engaged her."
At that critical part of the story, Benjulia paused. "And what did Mr.
A. do next?" he asked.

The cook could restrain herself no longer. She ju