good brother and a good man!"

Agatha laid her arm about the older woman's shoulder, and thus was led
out to Little Simon's buggy. Susan helped her in, and Agatha leaned
back, with closed eyes, indifferent to the beauty of early afternoon on
a cool summer's day. Little Simon let her ride in quiet, but landed
her in the dust on the opposite side of the road from the lilac bushes.

"Those trees!" said Doctor Thayer's voice, as he came out to meet her.
"How did you make out with Susan?"

"She's coming," said Agatha. "Is your patient any better?"

"I don't think he's any worse," answered the doctor dubiously, "but I'm
glad Susan's coming. I'd be glad to know how you got round her."

Agatha paused a moment before replying, "I wrestled with her."

The doctor smiled grimly, "I've known the wrestling to come out the
other way."

"I can believe that!" said Agatha.

"Well, it's fairly to your credit!" And perhaps this was as near
praise as his New England speech ever came.

CHAPTER XV

ECHOES FROM THE CITY

Sallie Kingsbury, unused to psychological analysis, could not have
explained why Mr. Hand was so objectionable to her. He was no relative
of the family, she had discovered that; and, accustomed as she was to
the old-fashioned gentility of a thrifty New England town, instinct
told her that he could not possibly be one of its varied products. He
might have come from anywhere; he talked so little that he was
suspicious on that ground alone; and when he did speak, there was no
accent at all that Sallie could lay hold of. Useful as he was just now
in taking care of that poor young man up-stairs, he nevertheless
inspired in her breast a most unholy irritation. Her attitude was that
of a housemaid pursuing the cat with the broom.

Mr. Hand was not greatly troubled by Sallie's tendency to sweep him out
of the way, but whenever he took any notice of her he was more than a
match for her. On the afternoon following Agatha's visit to Mrs.
Stoddard, he appeared to show some slight objection to being treated
like the cat. He ate his luncheon in the kitchen--a large, delightful
room--while Aleck Van Camp stayed with James. Hand was stirring broth
over the stove, now and then giving a sharp eye to Sallie's preparation
of her new mistress' luncheon.

"You haven't put any salt or pepper on mademoiselle's tray, Sallie,"
said he, as the maid was about to start up-stairs.

"_Miss_ Sallie, I should prefer, Mr. Ha