to do it for you."

"That," replied the Doctor, triumphantly, "disproves your own theory. If
you are in earnest, begin on the morrow to instruct Mr. Irving."

Margaret flushed, perceiving her own inconsistency.

"I could be of assistance, possibly," he continued, "for in the
difficult school of experience I have learned many things. I have often
taken professional pride in closing an aperture in my clothing with neat
stitches, and the knowledge thus gained has helped me in my surgery. All
things in this world fit in together."

"It is fortunate if they do," she answered. "My own scheme of things has
been very much disarranged."

"Yet, as Fraeulein Fredrika would say, 'the dear God knows.' Life is like
one of those puzzles that come in a box. It is full of queer pieces
which seemingly bear no relation to one another, and yet there is a way
of putting it together into a perfect whole. Sometimes we make a mistake
at the beginning and discard pieces for which we think there is no
possible use. It is only at the end that we see we have made a mistake
and put aside something of much importance, but it is always too late to
go back--the pieces are gone.

"In my own life, I lost but one--still, it was the keystone of the
whole. When I came from Germany, I should have brought letters from
those in high places there to those in high places here. It could easily
have been done. I should have had this behind me when I came to East
Lancaster, and I should not have made the mistake of settling first on
the hill. Then----" The Doctor ceased abruptly, and sighed.

"This country is supposed to be very democratic," said Lynn, chiefly
because he could think of nothing else to say.

"Yes," replied the Doctor, "it is in your laws that all men are free and
equal, but it is not so. The older civilisations have found there is
class, and so you will find it here. At first, when everything is
chaotic, all particles may seem alike, but in time there is an
inevitable readjustment."

"We are getting very serious," said Margaret.

"It is an important subject," responded the Doctor, with dignity. "I
have often discussed it with my friend, Herr Kaufmann. He is a very fine
friend to have."

"Yes," said Lynn, "he is. It is only lately that I have learned to
appreciate him."

"One must grow to understand him," mused the Doctor. "At first, I did
not. I thought him rough, queer, and full of sarcasm. But afterward, I
saw that his harshness w