notoriety and welcome the obscurity of
Littlefield; but in the meantime Dr. Willows was left to wonder in vain;
though his wonder was leavened with a genuine admiration for his
colleague's skill, and a fervent gratitude for the other man's
unwearying willingness to give his aid.

On receiving the message Anstice frowned.

"That you, Willows? Is it an urgent case? Oh--of course I'll come ... I
must make a few arrangements first ... yes ... yes ... I'll be with you
in half an hour, if that will do."

He hung up the receiver, and now his manner was alert and keen. There
was about him none of the weariness, the indifference which too often
characterized his demeanour, and led some of his patients to complain
that he took no interest in them or in their sufferings. This was the
man who before that fatal day in India had stood, so it was whispered,
upon the threshold of a brilliant career--the man who, young,
resourceful, scientific, had taken a very real and deep interest in
every detail of his profession, and had led even the most cautious of
his teachers to prophesy for him a life of unvarying success.

He even looked younger as he consulted his notebook this morning; and
the shoulders which had begun to stoop ever so little were squared, the
head held erect as he scanned the pages before him with quick, resolute
eyes.

Luckily there was nothing very important on the morning list, no visits
that could not be safely postponed till the afternoon; and one or two
telephone messages soon put things straight and left him free to keep
his appointment with Dr. Willows.

He had a moment's indecision over the case of his new patient at Cherry
Orchard, but reflecting that if necessary they would probably ring him
up, he judged it safe to put off his visit to Mrs. Carstairs till his
return; and finally went out to his motor with an easy mind.

Returning home, fatigued but jubilant, at two o'clock, he applied
himself to his lunch; and then attacked his afternoon's work with an
energy engendered by the excellent results of the operation which he, in
company with his friend, had performed that morning.

Being delayed on various pretexts, it was five o'clock before he found
himself at the pretty house in its fragrant garden; and he rang the bell
rather hastily, with an absurd feeling that the servants would look
reproachfully on his tardy arrival.

The man seemed, however, to welcome him as he had done the previous
night; and