s--very curious.

Yet after all I was in love--and all lovers are fools in their
jealousy.

CHAPTER IV.

A NIGHT CALL.

"Do you know, Ralph," she faltered presently, "I have a faint
suspicion that you are annoyed about something. What is it? Be frank
now and tell me."

"Annoyed?" I laughed. "Not at all, dearest. Nervous and impatient,
perhaps. You must make allowances for me. A doctor's life is full of
professional worries. I've had a trying day at the hospital, and I
suppose I'm quarrelsome--eh?"

"No, not quarrelsome, but just inclined to be a little suspicious."

"Suspicious? Of what?"

Her woman's power of penetration to the innermost secrets of the heart
was marvellous.

"Of me?"

"How absurd!" I exclaimed. "Why should I be suspicious--and of what?"

"Well," she laughed, "I really don't know, only your manner is
peculiar. Why not be frank with me, Ralph, dear, and tell me what it
is that you don't like. Have I offended you?"

"Not at all, darling," I hastened to assure her. "Why, you're the best
little woman in the world. Offend me--how absurd!"

"Then who has offended you?"

I hesitated. When a woman really loves, a man can have but few secrets
from her. Ethelwynn always read me like an open book.

"I'm worried over a critical case," I said, in an endeavour to evade
her question.

"But your patients don't annoy you, surely," she exclaimed. "There is
a distinction between annoyance and worry."

I saw that she had detected my suspicion, and at once hastened to
reassure her that she had my entire confidence.

"If Mary finds her life a trifle dull with her husband it is surely no
reason why I should be blamed for it," she said, in a tone of mild
complaint.

"No, you entirely misunderstand me," I said. "No blame whatever
attaches to you. Your sister's actions are no affair of ours. It is
merely a pity that she cannot see her error. With her husband lying
ill she should at least remain at home."

"She declares that she has suffered martyrdom for his sake long
enough," my well-beloved said. "Perhaps she is right, for between
ourselves the old gentleman is a terrible trial."

"That is only to be expected from one suffering from such a disease.
Yet it can serve no excuse for his wife taking up with that gay set,
the Penn-Pagets and the Hennikers. I must say I'm very surprised."

"And so am I, Ralph. But what can I do? I'm utterly powerless. She is
mistress here, and does exactly as sh