"change
of scene." Dr. Eben smiled again, and, as he smiled, he noted with an
involuntary professional delight the clear, fine skin, the firm flesh,
the lustrous eye, the steady poise of every muscle in this woman,
who was catechising him, with so evident a doubt as to his skill and
information.

"I hardly think; Miss Gunn," he went on, "that I could make you
understand, in your superb health, just all I mean by change of
conditions. It means change of food, air, surroundings; every thing in
short, which addresses itself to the senses. It means an entire new set
of nerve impressions."

"Sally isn't in the least nervous," broke in Hetty. "She's always as
quiet as a mouse."

"You mean that she isn't in the least fidgety," replied the doctor.
"That is quite another thing. Some of the most nervous people I know
have absolute quiet of manner. Mrs. Little's nervous system has been for
several years under a terrible strain. When I was first called to her, I
thought her trouble and suffering would kill her; and I didn't think it
would take so long. But it is that which is killing her now." Hetty was
not listening: she was thinking very perplexedly of what the doctor had
said a few moments before; interrupting him now, she said, "Would it do
Sally good to take her to another place? that is easily done." Dr. Eben
hesitated.

"I think sea-air might help her; but I am not sure," he replied.

"Would you go with us?" asked Hetty. "She wouldn't go without you." The
doctor hesitated again. He looked into Hetty's eyes: they were fixed
on his as steadily, as unembarrassedly, as if he and Hetty had been
comrades for years. "What a woman she is," he thought to himself, "to
coolly ask me to become their travelling physician, when for six weeks I
have been coming to the house every day, and she would not even speak to
me!"

"I am not sure that I could, Miss Gunn," he replied. Hetty's face
changed. A look of distress stamped every feature.

"Oh, Dr. Williams, do!" she exclaimed. "Sally would never go without
you; and she will die, you say, unless she has change." Then hesitating,
and turning very red, Hetty stammered, "I can pay you any thing--which
would be necessary to compensate you: we have money enough." Dr. Eben
bowed, and answered with some asperity:

"The patients that I had hesitancy about leaving are patients who pay me
nothing. It is not in the least a question of money, Miss Gunn."

"Forgive me," exclaimed Hetty, "I di