t might belong" and was met by a plain surname prefixed merely
by "Miss," she became instantly curious. From other sources she learned
that the golden-haired Miss Watkins had been employed as a nurse in Dr.
Rogers' office for several months and that her Christian name was Mary
Sophia.

This also, you will see, was not much to build upon. But Desire felt
that she must neglect nothing. The menace of the unseen, unknown Mary
was beginning seriously to disturb her peace of mind. She determined to
see the doctor's pretty nurse at the earliest opportunity.

The comradeship between herself and Rogers had prospered amazingly. She
had liked the young doctor at first sight; had discerned in him
something charmingly boylike and appealing. And Desire had never had
boy friends. The utter frankness of her friendship was undisturbed by
overmuch knowledge of her own attractions, and the possibility of less
contentment on his side did not occur to her. Feeling herself so much
older, in reality, than he, she assumed with delicious naivete, the
role of confidant and general adviser. What time she could spare from
Benis and the great Book she bestowed most generously upon his friend.

During the four dragging days of waiting the appearance of Miss Davis,
she had found the distraction of Dr. John's company particularly
helpful. And then, after all, Miss Davis did not arrive. Instead, there
came a note regretting a very bad cold and postponing the visit until
its indefinite recovery. The news came at the breakfast table.

"How long," asked Desire thoughtfully, "does a bad cold usually last?"

"Not long--if it's just a cold," answered Benis with some gloom. "But,"
more hopefully, "if it is tonsillitis it lasts weeks and if pneumonia
sets in you have to stay indoors for months."

Aunt Caroline looked over her spectacles.

"You sound," she said, "as if you wish it were pneumonia."

But in this she was, perhaps, severe. Her nephew was really not capable
of wishing pneumonia for anyone, not even a possible Nemesis by the
name of Mary. He merely felt that if such a complication should
supervene he would bear the news with fortitude. For, speaking
colloquially, the professor was finding himself very much "in the air."
Desire's mind upon the subject of this guest in particular and of Marys
in general, had become clouded to his psychological gaze. He had
thought at first that his young secretary was jealous with that
harmless sex jealousy whi