till I consult the doctor," she said, dreaming
of all the things she could do toward increasing the doctor's
respectability if she had a little extra money. "I can not see that it
would hurt his practice if managed in that way."

"Indeed, it might help it," said Millard, seeing Mrs. Beswick's
accessible point. "You'd make the friendship of people who are connected
with the first families of the city, and you'd make the acquaintance of
Dr. Gunstone, who would recognize you only as a friend of Miss
Callender's."

"I'll speak to the doctor. I'm sure I wouldn't do it for any one else. I
couldn't stay away all the time, you know."

"Stay whatever time you can, and it will give me pleasure to pay you at
the highest rate, for the service is a very delicate one."

"I'll feel like a liar," she said, with her head down, "pretending to do
it all for nothing, though, indeed, I wouldn't go for anybody else."

"Oh, do it for nothing. We'll have no bargain. I'll make you a present
when you are done."

"That'll be better," she said, though Millard himself could hardly see
the difference.

XXXVII.

DR. GUNSTONE'S DIAGNOSIS.

Mrs. Beswick, at the cost of a little persistence and a good many
caresses, succeeded in getting the doctor to consent that she should go
to the Callenders'. The risk of contagion she pooh-poohed. She called at
Mrs. Callender's, and, again by a little persistence, succeeded in
laying off her hat and sack and ensconcing herself as a volunteer nurse
to Phillida. It seemed a case of remarkable disinterestedness to the
Callender family, and a case of unparalleled hypocrisy to Mrs. Beswick,
but she could not be dissuaded from staying from the early morning to
bedtime, assuring Mrs. Callender that she would rather care for her
daughter than for any one else. "Except the doctor, of course," she
added. She was always pleased when she could contrive to mention the
doctor; no topic of conversation brought her so many pleasurable
emotions. Phillida became fond of her and whenever she went away longed
for her return.

Robert brought flowers every day in Mrs. Hilbrough's name, and Millard
called to inquire as often as he thought proper. The tidings secured on
the third and fourth days indicated that the attack would prove a
lighter one than that which had almost cost the life of Tommy. On the
fifth day it was reported that Phillida was convalescent. Dr. Gunstone
had announced that he would come no more unles