nquestionably," assented the other, as if to say, "Just as I
expected."

"No theory of creation has any logical connection with any doctrine of
immortality. What was the motive of creation?--_that_ would be a
question! If you had asked me _that_! But the question, 'Where did men
come from?' has no bearing on the question, 'Have they any duties now
that they are here?' The two are reconciled, because they do not
differ. You can't state any inconsistency between a yard measure and a
fifty-six pound weight."

The doctor nodded; he sat down; he took a glass of water, and pressed
his hand to his heart. "Now, then," he said to himself, "once more! If
I have to stand this fifteen minutes I shall be in _some_ other
world!"

The door from the inner room opened; and Mrs. Hicok came singing in,
carrying balanced upon her pretty pink fore-finger something or other
of an airy bouquet-like fabric. Upon this she was looking with much
delight.

"See, dear!" she said: "how perfectly lovely!"

Both gentlemen started, and the lady started too. She had not known of
the visit; and she had not, until this instant, seen that her husband
was not alone.

Dr. Hicok, of course, had never given her the key to his
skeleton-closet; for he was a shrewd man. He loved her too; and he
thought he had provided for her absence during the ordeal. She had
executed her shopping with unprecedented speed.

Why the visitor started, would be difficult to say. Perhaps her voice
startled him. The happy music in it was enough like a beautified
duplicate of his own thrilling sweet tones, to have made him
acknowledge her for a sister--from heaven. He started, at any rate.

"Mr. Lyon, my wife," said the doctor, somewhat at a loss. Mr. Lyon
bowed, and so did the lady.

"I beg your pardon, gentlemen, I am sure," she said. "I did not know
you were busy, dear. There is a thunder-shower coming up. I drove home
just in season."

"Oh!--only a little wager, about some conundrums," said the doctor.
Perhaps he may be excused for his fib. He did not want to annoy her
unnecessarily.

"Oh, do let me know!" she said, with much eagerness. "You know how I
enjoy them!"

"Well," said the doctor, "not exactly the ordinary kind. I was to
puzzle my friend here with one out of three questions; and he has
beaten me in two of them already. I've but one more chance."

"Only one?" she asked, with a smile. "What a bright man your friend
must be! I thought nobody could puzzle y