he slightest interest in Mr. Mirabel," she thought, smiling
as the idea occurred to her; "and I need never have known him, but for
Lady Doris--who is a perfect stranger to me."

She had just placed the letter in her desk, when a visitor was
announced. Doctor Allday presented himself (in a hurry as usual).

"Another patient waiting?" Emily asked mischievously. "No time to spare,
again?"

"Not a moment," the old gentleman answered. "Have you heard from Mrs.
Ellmother?"

"Yes."

"You don't mean to say you have answered her?"

"I have done better than that, doctor--I have seen her this morning."

"And consented to be her reference, of course?"

"How well you know me!"

Doctor Allday was a philosopher: he kept his temper. "Just what I might
have expected," he said. "Eve and the apple! Only forbid a woman to do
anything, and she does it directly--be cause you have forbidden her.
I'll try the other way with you now, Miss Emily. There was something
else that I meant to have forbidden."

"What was it?"

"May I make a special request?"

"Certainly."

"Oh, my dear, write to Mrs. Rook! I beg and entreat of you, write to
Mrs. Rook!"

Emily's playful manner suddenly disappeared.

Ignoring the doctor's little outbreak of humor, she waited in grave
surprise, until it was his pleasure to explain himself.

Doctor Allday, on his side, ignored the ominous change in Emily; he went
on as pleasantly as ever. "Mr. Morris and I have had a long talk about
you, my dear. Mr. Morris is a capital fellow; I recommend him as a
sweetheart. I also back him in the matter of Mrs. Rook.--What's the
matter now? You're as red as a rose. Temper again, eh?"

"Hatred of meanness!" Emily answered indignantly. "I despise a man who
plots, behind my back, to get another man to help him. Oh, how I have
been mistaken in Alban Morris!"

"Oh, how little you know of the best friend you have!" cried the doctor,
imitating her. "Girls are all alike; the only man they can understand,
is the man who flatters them. _Will_ you oblige me by writing to Mrs.
Rook?"

Emily made an attempt to match the doctor, with his own weapons. "Your
little joke comes too late," she said satirically. "There is Mrs. Rook's
answer. Read it, and--" she checked herself, even in her anger she was
incapable of speaking ungenerously to the old man who had so warmly
befriended her. "I won't say to _you_," she resumed, "what I might have
said to another person."

"Shall I say