town,
for love or money."

"Well, sir," said the last petitioner, "the houses are pretty full just
now, to be sure, but may be you can get colonised out."

"_Colonised out!_" said the doctor, in a tone of vexation. "That's what
I think we are already; what I want is to get _in_ somewhere. Where do
you usually drive your coach?"

"To Congress Hall."

"Drive up, then, and let us get in; and, mind, if they don't take us at
Congress Hall, we shall expect you to keep us until we find
accommodation."

Mrs. Jeremy, Emily, and Gertrude were assisted into a small omnibus. The
doctor took a seat on the outside, and, the moment the vehicle stopped,
hastened to the landlord. There was not a vacant corner in the house.
Wishing to accommodate him, the office-keeper said that he might be able
before night to furnish him with one room in a house in the next street.

"One room! in the next street!" cried the doctor. "Ah, that's being
colonised out, is it? Well, sir, it won't do for me; I must have a place
to put my ladies in at once. Why, in conscience, don't you have hotels
enough for your visitors?"

"It is the height of the season, sir, and----"

"Why, Dr. Jeremy!" exclaimed the youthful voice of Netta Gryseworth, who
was passing through the hall with her grandmother. "How do you do, sir?
Are Miss Graham and Miss Flint with you? Have you come to stay?"

Before the doctor could answer her questions and pay his respects to
Madam Gryseworth, a venerable old lady whom he had known for thirty
years, the landlord of the hotel accosted him. "Dr. Jeremy?" said he.
"Excuse me, I did not know you. Dr. Jeremy, of Boston?"

"The same," said the doctor, bowing.

"Ah, we are all right, then. Your rooms are reserved, and will be made
ready in a few minutes; they were vacated two days ago, and have not
been occupied since."

"What is all this?" exclaimed the honest doctor. "I engaged no rooms."

"A friend did it for you, then, sir; a fortunate circumstance,
especially as you have ladies with you. Saratoga is very crowded at this
season; there were seven thousand strangers in the town yesterday."

The doctor thanked his unknown friend, and summoned the ladies to enjoy
their good fortune.

"Why, now, ain't we lucky?" said Mrs. Jeremy, as she glanced around the
comfortable room allotted to herself, and then she took a survey of
Emily's and Gertrude's apartment.

The doctor, having attended to the baggage, approached the door and
h