"Mr. Libby"--she
began, going up to him, and drooping before him in an attitude which
simply and frankly expressed the contrition she felt; but she could not
continue. Mrs. Maynard's laugh broke into the usual cough, and as soon
as she could speak she seized the word.

"Well, there, now; we can leave it to Mr. Libby. It's the principle of
the thing that I look at. And I want to see how it strikes him. I want
to know, Mr. Libby, if you were a doctor,"--he looked at Grace, and
flushed,--"and a person was very sick, and wanted you to consult with
another doctor, whether you would let the mere fact that you had n't
been introduced have any weight with you?" The young man silently
appealed to Grace, who darkened angrily, and before he could speak Mrs.
Maynard interposed. "No, no, you sha'n't ask her. I want your opinion.
It's just an abstract question." She accounted for this fib with a wink
at Grace.

"Really," he said, "it's rather formidable. I've never been a doctor of
any kind."

"Oh, yes, we know that!" said Mrs. Maynard. "But you are now, and now
would you do it?"

"If the other fellow knew more, I would."

"But if you thought he did n't?"

"Then I wouldn't. What are you trying to get at, Mrs. Maynard? I'm not
going to answer any more of your questions."

"Yes,--one more. Don't you think it's a doctor's place to get his
patient well any way he can?"

"Why, of course!"

"There, Grace! It's just exactly the same case. And ninety-nine out of a
hundred would decide against you every time."

Libby turned towards Grace in confusion. "Miss Breen--I did n't
understand--I don't presume to meddle in anything--You're not fair, Mrs.
Maynard! I have n't any opinion on the subject, Miss Breen; I haven't,
indeed!"

"Oh, you can't back out, now!" exclaimed Mrs. Maynard joyously. "You've
said it."

"And you're quite right, Mr. Libby," said Grace haughtily. She bade him
good-morning; but he followed her from the room, and left Mrs. Maynard
to her triumph.

"Miss Breen--Do let me speak to you, please! Upon my word and honor,
I didn't know what she was driving at; I did n't, indeed! It's pretty
rough on me, for I never dreamt of setting myself up as a judge of your
affairs. I know you're right, whatever you think; and I take it all
back; it was got out of me by fraud, any way. And I beg your pardon for
not calling you Doctor--if you want me to do it. The other comes more
natural; but I wish to recognize you in the way