path to meet them, when the car stopped under
the brow of the hill. He shook hands with Richard Hook, patted Phoebe on
the cheek, and said:

"Hang on to your faith, little girl. It's a wonderful reservoir to draw
on."

Then he grasped hands with Mr. Campbell, whom he had met several times
now and liked immensely, nodded to Alberdina, and drawing Billie's arm
through his, marched on ahead.

"Anybody might think my little girl was a consulting physician,"
remarked Mr. Campbell, amused at the earnest conversation the young girl
and the great surgeon had plunged into,--and proud, too, that it should
be so.

"Oh, they have lots of secrets from us, Mr. Campbell," replied Richard
Hook. "Miss Billie is confidential adviser to the doctor. I don't
believe he takes a step without consulting her first."

"Wise man," answered Billie's father. "He'll get some good sound advice,
if not entirely professional."

In the meantime, Billie was saying:

"Oh, doctor, what has happened? Is he conscious? Has he spoken? Does he
recognize anyone?"

"How could he, child, when there is no one for him to recognize?
Recollect that in coming to, the man has taken up the thread of his life
of eighteen or twenty years ago. I would not trust him to see Phoebe at
this point. Only the faces of strangers are safe for him for the time
being."

"And the stranger never came back who inquired about him that day?"

"No. I told him two weeks would be safer. There is no doubt the man was
a personage of some sort. His companion said, 'Yes, Excellency,' as they
went down the path. I suppose he's got some kind of a title."

"Did he seem excited?" asked Billie.

"I could hardly say excited. He appeared a good deal moved by the story
of Phoebe and her father. He asked me if any money was needed."

"Of course you said 'no'?" observed Billie.

"I did. It's my turn now. His turn may come later. I explained to him
that any excitement or sudden recognition immediately after the
operation might prove fatal or disastrous, and he took himself off. But
I consider that Phoebe's father is practically identified."

"Is he conscious?" asked Billie with subdued excitement.

"Not only conscious, but, my dear child, what do you think? Speaking
German; not English."

Billie gasped.

"That's why you wanted Alberdina."

"Yes, I needed someone who could speak with him, and a servant would be
excellent; better, really, than an educated German. Just now the man's
m