to say advice, but he stopped himself, and repeated--"help."

They stood inconclusively a moment, as if they would both be glad of
something more to say. Then she said tentatively, "Good-morning," and
he responded experimentally, "Good-morning"; and with that they
involuntarily parted, and she went out of the door, which he stood
holding open even after she had got out of the gate.

His mother came down the stairs. "What in the world were you quarrelling
with that girl about, Rufus?"

"We were not quarrelling, mother."

"Well, it sounded like it. Who was she?

"Who?" repeated her son absently. "Dr. Breen."

"Doctor Breen? That girl a doctor?"

"Yes."

"I thought she was some saucy thing. Well, upon my word!" exclaimed Mrs.
Mulbridge. "So that is a female doctor, is it? Was she sick?"

"No," said her son, with what she knew to be professional finality.
"Mother, if you can hurry dinner a little, I shall be glad. I have
to drive over to Jocelyn's, and I should like to start as soon as
possible."

"Who was the young man with her? Her beau, I guess."

"Was there a young man with her?" asked Dr. Mulbridge.

His mother went out without speaking. She could be unsatisfactory, too.

VI.

No one but Mrs. Breen knew of her daughter's errand, and when Grace came
back she alighted from Mr. Libby's buggy with an expression of thanks
that gave no clew as to the direction or purpose of it. He touched his
hat to her with equal succinctness, and drove away, including all the
ladies on the piazza in a cursory obeisance.

"We must ask you, Miss Gleason," said Mrs. Alger. "Your admiration of
Dr. Breen clothes you with authority and responsibility."

"I can't understand it at all," Miss Gleason confessed. "But I'm sure
there's nothing in it. He isn't her equal. She would feel that it wasn't
right--under the circumstances."

"But if Mrs. Maynard was well it would be a fair game, you mean," said
Mrs. Alger.

"No," returned Miss Gleason, with the greatest air of candor, "I can't
admit that I meant that."

"Well," said the elder lady, "the presumption is against them. Every
young couple seen together must be considered in love till they prove
the contrary."

"I like it in her," said Mrs. Frost. "It shows that she is human, after
all. It shows that she is like other girls. It's a relief."

"She is n't like other girls," contended Miss Gleason darkly.

"I would rather have Mr. Libby's opinion," said Mrs. Merritt.