e understood. Clemency was wonderfully skilled at
needle-work, and she had plenty of material in the house. She was
reflecting innocently how she could begin at once upon some dainty
little frills for her trousseau. A delight, purely feminine, filled her
fair little face.

"All the same," said James, "I am going to take you out before long. You
must have some fresh air."

"I don't mind," said Clemency, then she broke off suddenly. She ran to
the farther end of the room, sat down, and snatched a book from the
table and opened it in the middle, "It is Uncle Tom," she remarked.

James laughed, crossed the room swiftly, kissed her, then went into the
office to greet Doctor Gordon. Doctor Gordon stood by the office fire
taking off his overcoat. He looked gloomier than usual. "Who is in
there?" he asked, pointing to the living-room wall.

"Your niece," answered James. He felt himself color, but the other man
did not notice it.

"Mrs. Ewing has gone to bed?"

"Yes, went directly after you left."

Doctor Gordon's face grew darker. He had tossed his coat over a chair,
and stood staring absently at the table with its prismatic lights.

"I know where he is," he said presently in a whisper.

"You mean?"

"Yes," said Doctor Gordon impatiently. "You know whom I mean. I saw him
go in--well, no matter where."

"I suspect that he has been hanging about here," said James.

"What makes you think so?"

"The dog barked and acted queer."

"Dogs always did hate him," said Doctor Gordon, with a queer expression.
Then he gave himself a shake. Here he said: "Let's have something hot
and a smoke." He called to Emma to bring some hot water and sugar and
lemons and glasses. Then he produced a bottle from a cabinet in the
office, and himself brewed a sort of punch, the like of which James had
never tasted before.

"That's my own recipe," said Doctor Gordon, laughing. "Nobody knows what
it is, not even Georgie K. But--" he hesitated a little, then he added
laughing, "I have left it in my will for Georgie K. I made my will some
little time ago."

James felt it incumbent upon himself to say something about Doctor
Gordon being still a young man comparatively, and healthy. To his
sanguine young mind a will seemed ominous.

"Well, I have not reached the allotted span," Gordon replied, "but
healthier men than I have come to their end sooner than they expected,
and I wanted to make sure of some things. I wanted especially to make
sure