bidden him remember--for her sake--that the way he had taken was not
in truth the way out; and although every nerve in his body cried out for
relief, nothing in the world could have persuaded him to mar Iris'
wedding-day by an act whose commission would have grieved her had she
known of it.

And since to sit at home, brooding over the dimly-remembered events of
the preceding night, would be fatal, there was nothing for it but to go
out and strive to forget his own mental agony in an attempt to alleviate
the physical suffering of those who trusted him to relieve their bodily
woes at least.

He was about to enter his car when he heard the hoot of a motor-horn
behind him; and turning round, one foot on the step, saw his friendly
rival, Dr. Willows, driving up to intercept him.

"Hallo, Anstice, glad you're not out. I wanted to see you."

Anstice moved forward to meet him, but Dr. Willows, an agile little man
of middle age, hopped out of his car, and taking Anstice's arm moved
with him out of ear-shot of the waiting chauffeur.

"Well?" Anstice's voice was not inviting.

"It's about that affair at Cherry Orchard." Involuntarily Anstice's arm
stiffened, and the other man dropped it as he went on speaking. "I was
called in last night, and hearing you were ill--by the way, are you
better now?" He broke off abruptly and peered into Anstice's face with
disconcerting keenness.

"Quite, thanks. It was only a temporary indisposition," returned Anstice
coldly; and Dr. Willows relaxed his gaze.

"Glad to hear it--though you look pretty seedy this morning. You know
you really work too hard, Anstice. I assure you your predecessor didn't
take half the trouble with his patients that you do----"

"You'll excuse me reminding you that I have not begun my round yet."
Anstice interrupted him impatiently. "You were saying you were called in
to Cherry Orchard----"

"Yes. The little girl was badly burnt--owing to some carelessness on the
part of the servants--and since you were not available----"

"Who told you I was not available?" His tone was grim.

"Why, Miss Wayne, of course. You know she and Mr. Cheniston came on to
see me after finding you weren't able to go owing to being seedy
yourself"--even Anstice's sore spirit could not doubt the little man's
absolute ignorance of the nature of his supposed illness--"and they
asked me to go in your place. So as it was an urgent case of course I
did not hesitate to go."

"Of course not