"Your aunt wants a doctor," continued Phillida, "but Mr. Martin has left
the woman in charge, and she refuses to give up the case. Tommy is
crying, and Mrs. Martin is in a horrible position and wants to see you."
Here Phillida's eyes fell as she added, "There was nobody to send; I
couldn't get a messenger; and so I had to come myself."

"I am glad--" here Millard paused and began over--"You did the best
thing to come yourself. You will excuse me, but I don't understand. You
haven't charge of the case at all, then?"

"No, no, Charley--Mr. Millard; there is no time to explain. Get a good
doctor, and put Miss Bowyer out, if you have to fetch a policeman. Get a
good doctor at once. If you save the child you must be quick, quick! The
horrible woman will be the death of him."

Millard caught the infection of urgency and began to take in the
situation. He stepped to the door, drew aside the portiere, and said:

"Washington, call a coupe for me. Quick, now." Then he called after the
boy as he went to the telephone, "Tell them to hurry it up."

He turned towards Phillida; then with a new impulse he turned again and
walked impatiently to the office. "Mr. Oliver, won't you ask if my man
is below, and send him here as quickly as possible?"

The clerk moved, without ruffling his dignity by undue haste, to the
speaking-tube which communicated with the basement. In the course of
half a minute a young Englishman, with a fore-and-aft cap in his hand,
came running to the reception-room, in the door of which Millard was
standing.

"Robert," said Millard, "run to the stable and have them send my coupe
on the jump. Come back with it yourself."

The well-trained Robert glided swiftly out of the front door, not even
asking a question with his eyes.

"You'll go back with me in the coupe?" Millard said to Phillida, who had
risen and now stood waiting in embarrassment to say good-morning.

Phillida could not for a moment think of driving back with Millard, not
so much on account of the conventional impropriety in it as because her
visit was capable of misconstruction; and while she believed that
Millard knew her too well to put any interpretation of self-interest on
her coming, she could not have brought herself to return to Avenue C in
his coupe. If for no other reason, she would have declined in order to
avoid prolonging an interview painful and embarrassing to both. She was
worn and faint from the fatigues of the night and the exci