t home this evening,
John, Effie would like to ask her friend Dorothy Fraser to come in for
an hour or two. She wants to introduce her to you."

"She is one of those modern girls, is she not?" said the doctor.

"Oh, father, she is just splendid," said Effie. "If you only knew her,
if you could hear her speak----"

"Well, my dear, don't get into a state, and above all things, don't
learn that dreadful habit of exaggeration. I dare say Miss Fraser is
very well, but there are few prodigies in the world, my little Effie;
and, for my part, give me the home birds--they are the girls for my
world; they are the girls who will make good wives by and by. There, my
love, I shall be pleased to welcome any friend of yours, so ask her
over, by all means. She won't mind the old doctor's pipe, I hope?"

"Oh, no, father!" Effie could not help smiling. She knew perfectly well
that Dorothy thought it no harm to indulge in a tiny cigarette herself,
not often, nor every day, but sometimes when she was dead beat, as she
expressed it. Effie had to keep this knowledge of her friend's
delinquencies to herself. If Dr. Staunton knew that Dorothy did not
consider smoking the unpardonable sin in woman, he would not allow her
inside his doors. "I will go and fetch her," Effie said, jumping up and
putting on her hat. "She is longing to know you, father, and you can
smoke two or three pipes while she is here."

Effie left the room. Mrs. Staunton looked at her husband. "I doubt if
Dorothy Fraser is the best of friends for our Effie."

"Eh!" said the doctor, taking his pipe out of his mouth for a moment.
"What ails the girl?"

"Oh, nothing at all," replied Mrs. Staunton. "Effie is very fond of her,
and I believe she really is a fine creature. You know she is educating
her two brothers."

"What is she doing--how does she earn her living?"

"Oh, she is a nurse in a hospital. She has been in St. Joseph's Hospital
for years, and is now superintendent of one of the wards. She gets a
good salary."

The doctor rubbed his hands together in a somewhat impatient way. "You
know my opinion of lady nurses," he said, looking at his wife.

"Well, dear, make the best of Dorothy for Effie's sake. I hear the steps
of the two girls now. You will do what you can to be agreeable, won't
you?"

"No," said the doctor; "I shall growl like a bear with a sore head, when
I see women who ought to be content with sweet home duties struggling
and pining to go out into