ar to ravish them as
they rode, to say nothing of the moon--they came to the Doctor's door
quite dizzy with the joy of it.

Derry was loath to leave. "Can't we all go to a play tonight?" he
asked Jean's father. "You and Miss Bridges and the two of us?"

"Certainly not. Jean has done enough to-day. She isn't made of iron."

"She is made of fire and dew," Derry flung at him, lightly.

"Heavens, has it come to that? Well, she is still my daughter. I
won't have her ill on my hands."

"But, Daddy!"

"You are to have a quiet dinner with me, my dear, and go to bed--and
young Lochinvar may call for you in the morning--"

Young Lochinvar was repentant. "I didn't think it would tire her."

"Henceforth you will have to think."

"I know, sir."

He was so meek that the Doctor melted. "Run along and say 'Good-bye'
to her. I'll give you ten minutes."

They wanted ten eternities. But there was, of course, tomorrow. They
comforted themselves with that.

At dinner, the Doctor spoke of Derry's father. "All real danger is
past, but he will have to be careful."

"When is Hilda coming back?"

"She told me last night that she'd rather stay until there was no
further need for a nurse. The General hates a change, and he has asked
her to stay."

"Does she like it?"

"She is very comfortable."

"Derry says that his father is an old dear."

"He would think so, naturally."

There were things about the General's case which were troubling Dr.
McKenzie, and of which he could not speak. The old man had,
undoubtedly been given something to drink on Thanksgiving Day.

Hilda had had strict orders, and the day nurse, and the only other
person who had had access to the General's room was Bronson. He had
made up his mind to speak to Derry about Bronson.

The meal progressed rather silently. The Doctor was preoccupied,
taciturn. Miss Emily made futile efforts at conversation. Jean
dallied with her dinner.

"My dear," the Doctor commented as she pushed away her salad, "you
can't live on love."

"I'm not hungry. We had tea at the Club. Drusilla was there--and--we
told her."

"Told her what?"

Blushing furiously, "That Derry and I are going to be--married."

"But you are not. Not for months. If that cub thinks he can carry you
off from under my eyes he is mistaken. You've got to get acquainted
with each other--I have seen too many unhappy marriages."

"But we are not going to be unhappy, Daddy."

"How