as
familiar.

He ran down the stone steps in eager haste to be gone, his vision still
engaged with the reproachful look Evelyn's mother had given him when
she heard of his incredible refusal to accompany the Walworths on the
luxuriously-equipped expedition in search of recuperation and enjoyment
for the idolized only daughter. "This settles me with them to the end of
time, I suppose," he said to himself. As the car ran down the drive,
he straightened his shoulders with a sense of thankfulness that his
practice was not often in the homes of the comparatively few people who
can afford to buy even that most precious of commodities, the time of
others, when that time has been consecrated to certain uses.

"Not going to stop for lunch, Doctor?" inquired young Caruthers
anxiously, as the round of calls went on and one o'clock passed, with
the Imp in a portion of the city remote from the hotel at which Burns
was accustomed to refresh himself and Johnny when home was out of the
question.

"We'll go to the hospital next, and I shall be there a couple of hours.
You can go and fill up then. I must be back at the office by four--for
engagements."

So the day went. The busy physician who goes out of town for even a five
days' vacation must plan for it and do much arranging in various ways.
In spite of the fact that it would still be many weeks before Burns
could attempt surgery again, he was having plenty to do. Only the
determination to get away this time without fail made it possible for
him to go. But there would be never a time when he could better be
spared, and he meant to let nothing hinder his purpose.

"The arm's coming on well," was Doctor Buller's verdict late that
afternoon as he gave the healing member its usual manipulation and
massage. "It takes patience to wait, though, doesn't it, Burns? Never
tried a broken arm myself, but I should say that hand must be itching to
be at work in the operating-room again."

"Itching! It's burning, blistering, scarifying! I never knew how I liked
that part of my work till I had to come down to an exclusive practice
in pills and plasters. Grayson's doing a stunt to-day that would have
driven me mad with envy if I could have stopped to look on. Doing it
cleverly, too, by the report I had from Van Horn just now. When Van
takes the trouble to praise another man it means something."

"Means it's been forced from him," commented Buller. "Besides, Van
enjoys praising Grayson to you.