ptly, and gave a discreet
little cough. Then, warned by something in the doctor's face that he
could proceed with perfect safety, he went on once more. "As I came hup
the stairs, I 'eard 'er telling Mr. Hopdyke that he must harise and
leave 'is disease be'ind 'im; and hit seemed to me, sir, I'd best
telephone to you, for fear he'd be doing a thing so rash, and 'urt
'imself for ever. I trust," he now addressed himself to Opdyke; "trust
there was no liberty taken, sir."

Reed laughed, despite the fact that the encounter with Mrs. Brenton's
new theology had left him feeling most ignobly weak.

"So that was it? Ramsdell, you're a wily fox. I'll see you don't regret
it. And don't worry. I'm all right, and I promise you I won't try any
gymnastics till the doctor gives me leave." Then, Ramsdell gone, he
turned to the doctor in a sudden wave of self-surrender which the older
man found exceeding pitiful. "Doctor, am I a futile sort of chap, or am
I slowly going off my head? The woman talked the most utter rubbish; I
know it's total rot. And yet--Doctor," and the brown eyes looked up
into the keen eyes above them with an appeal before which the keen eyes
veiled themselves. "Doctor," Reed added a bit unsteadily; "I thought I
had succeeded in getting a firm grip on myself once for all; and
now--it's gone."

In the end, it was a case for hypodermics, that night, the first time
for almost a year. The doctor stayed with Reed till time for dinner;
then, with an absolute casualness, he invited Mrs. Opdyke to let him
stay and dine with her and the professor. Downstairs, his talk was
cheery, careless; no one, seeing the doctor for the first time, would
have suspected that anything was on his mind. The professor, though,
knew his old friend better, yet he forebore to put a question. He knew
that, when Doctor Keltridge was quite ready, he was wont to speak; but
not before.

Doctor Keltridge's cigar, smoked in Reed's room, lasted long, that
night; above it, the doctor was silent, indolent, and yet alert to
every change in the face before him. At nine o'clock, he rose, dived
into his breast pocket and pulled out a little case. An instant later,
he had bent above the couch.

"Now, Ramsdell," he said cheerily, when he had once more tucked the rug
in about Opdyke's arm; "you'd better get this fellow into bed at once.
If he isn't sound asleep, inside an hour, you'll know what to do. A
good night to you, boy, and many thanks for your educate