I ever knew, though sometimes he is rather
abrupt in his manner. If you prefer it, however, I will see your doctor.
Good-bye; I will come again to-morrow."

As she took her bridle from Philip's hand, the boy looked up at her with an
expression bordering on adoration.

"Thank you, Philip; how did he behave?"

"Not very well; but he is beautiful enough to make up for his wildness."

"That is bad doctrine; beauty never should excuse bad behaviour. Is your
mother at home?"

"No, ma'am."

"When she comes, ask her I say please to step in now and then, and overlook
things for Mrs. Davis; Susan is sick. Philip, if it is not asking too much
of you, Johnnie would like to have you sit by him till his little sister
comes home, and wet that cloth which I left on his head. Will you?"

"Indeed, I will; I am very glad you told me. Certainly I will."

"I thought so. Don't talk to him; let him sleep if he will. Good-bye."

She went first to a woodyard on the river, and left an order for a cord of
wood to be sent immediately to No. 13, Factory Row; then took the street
leading to Doctor Brandon's office. A servant sat on the step whistling
merrily; and, in answer to her questions, he informed her that his master
had just left town, to be absent two days. She rode on for a few squares,
doubling her veil in the hope of shrouding her features, and stopped once
more in front of the door where stood Dr. Arnold's buggy.

"Cyrus, is the doctor in his office?"

"Yes, Miss Irene."

"Hold my horse for me."

She gathered the folds of her riding-habit over her arm, and went upstairs.
Leaning far back in his chair, with his feet on the fender of the grate,
sat Dr. Arnold, watching the blue smoke of his meerschaum curl lazily in
faint wreaths over his head; and as she entered, a look of pleasant
surprise came instantly into his cold, clear eyes.

"Bless me! Irene; I am glad to see you. It is many a day since you have
shown your face here; sit down. Now, then, what is to pay? You are in
trouble, of course; you never think of me except when you are. Has old
Nellie treated herself to another spell of rheumatism, or Paragon broke his
leg, or smallpox broke out anywhere; or, worse than all, have the hawks
taken to catching your pigeons?"

"None of these catastrophes has overtaken me; but I come, as usual, to ask
a favour. If you please, I want you to go up to the Factory Row this
evening. Mrs. Davis, No. 13, has two children very sick, I am