obstinate. Those people are always complaining.
Really, you must permit me to know more about nursing than you do,
Jamie."

Jamie's face grew dark and grim, but he made no answer.

"I shall send you some soup, John," said Mary, as they went out, "You
know, one can never get these people to do anything in a rational way,"
she added to James. "It's perfectly heartrending trying to teach them
even such a natural thing as making themselves comfortable."

James was silent.

They walked a few yards farther, and passed a man in a dog-cart Mary
turned very red, staring in front of her with the fixed awkwardness of
one not adept in the useful art of cutting.

"Oh," she said, with vexation, "he's going to John."

"Who is it?"

"It's Dr. Higgins--a horrid, vulgar man. He's been dreadfully rude to
me, and I make a point of cutting him."

"Really?"

"Oh, he behaved scandalously. I can't bear doctors, they're so
dreadfully interfering. And they seem to think no one can know anything
about doctoring but themselves! He was attending one of my patients; it
was a woman, and of course I knew what she wanted. She was ill and weak,
and needed strengthening; so I sent her down a bottle of port. Well, Dr.
Higgins came to the house, and asked to see me. He's not a gentleman,
you know, and he was so rude! 'I've come to see you about Mrs. Gandy,'
he said. 'I particularly ordered her not to take stimulants, and I find
you've sent her down port.' 'I thought she wanted it,' I said. 'She
told me that you had said she wasn't to touch anything, but I thought a
little port would do her good.' Then he said, 'I wish to goodness you
wouldn't interfere with what you know nothing about.' 'I should like you
to remember that you're speaking to a gentlewoman,' I said. 'I don't
care twopence,' he answered, in the rudest way. 'I'm not going to allow
you to interfere with my patients. I took the port away, and I wish you
to understand that you're not to send any more.'

"Then I confess I lost my temper. 'I suppose you took it away to drink
yourself?' I said. Then what d'you think he did? He burst out laughing,
and said: 'A bottle of port that cost two bob at the local grocer's! The
saints preserve us!'"

James repressed a smile.

"'You impertinent man!' I said. 'You ought to be ashamed to talk to a
woman like that. I shall at once send Mrs. Gandy another bottle of port,
and it's no business of yours how much it cost.' 'If you do,' he said,
'and a