y I
like, when it does not cost me a cent of money or a breath of effort!"

"Oh, sir, your generous refusal of our thanks does but deepen our
obligation!" said Marah, still weeping.

"Now, my dear madam, will you persist in making me confess that it is
all selfishness on my part? I like the boy, I tell you! I shall like his
bright, cheerful face in my office! I can make him very useful to me;
also----"

"Oh, sir, if you can and will only make him useful to you----"

"Why, to be sure I can and will! He can act as my clerk, keep my
accounts, write my letters, drive out with me and sit in the rig while I
go in to visit my patients, for though I have pretty much retired from
practice, still----"

"Still you visit and prescribe for the sick poor, gratis!" added Marah,
feelingly.

"Pooh, pooh! habit, madam--habit! 'ruling passion strong as death,' etc.
I can't for the life of me keep from giving people bread pills. And now,
by the way, I must be off to see some of my patients in Staunton.
Traverse, my lad--my young medical assistant, I mean--are you willing to
go with me?"

"Oh, sir," said the boy, and here his voice broke down with emotion.

"Come along, then," laughed the doctor; "You shall drive with me into
the village as a commencement."

Traverse got his hat, while the doctor held out his hand to Mrs. Rocke,
who, with her eyes full of tears and her voice faltering with emotion,
began again to thank him, when he good-humoredly interrupted her by
saying:

"Now my good little woman, do pray, hush. I'm a selfish fellow, as
you'll see. I do nothing but what pleases my own self and makes me
happy. Good-by; God bless you, madam," he said, cordially shaking her
hand. "Come, Traverse," he added, hurriedly striding out of the door and
through the yard to the gate, before which the old green gig and sorrel
mare were still waiting.

"Traverse, I brought you out again to-day more especially to speak of
your mother and her state of health," said Doctor Day, very seriously,
as they both took their seats in the gig and drove on toward the town.
"Traverse, your mother is in no immediate danger of death; in fact, she
has no disease whatever."

"Oh, sir, you do not think her ill, then! I thought you did not, from
the fact that you never felt her pulse or gave her a prescription,"
exclaimed Traverse, delightedly, for in one thing the lad resembled his
mother--he was sensitive and excitable--easily depressed and easily
exhi