old her. Just
step into the sitting-room a second," and the precautious husband went
forward to his wife's bedroom, leaving the door open.

Standing there in the hallway, Kemp could plainly hear the following
words:--

"And being interested in nervous diseases," the peculiarly low voice was
saying, "he told Father he would call and see you,--out of professional
curiosity, you know; besides we should not like you to be often taken as
you were last night, should we?"

"People with plenty of time on their hands," soliloquized the doctor,
looking at his watch in the hallway.

"What is his name, did you say?"

"Dr. Herbert Kemp."

"What! Don't you know that Dr. Kemp is one of the first physicians in
the city? Every one knows he has no time for curiosity. Nervous diseases
are his specialty; and do you think he would come without--"

"Being asked?" interrupted a pleasant voice; the doctor had remembered
the flight of time, and walked in unannounced.

"Keep your seat," he continued, as Mrs. Levice started up, the excited
blood springing to her cheeks.

"You hardly need an introduction, Esther," said Levice. "You remember
Dr. Kemp from last night?"

"Yes. Don't go, Ruth, please; Jules, hadn't you something to do
downstairs?"

Did she imagine for a moment that she could still conceal her trouble
from his tender watchfulness? Great dark rings encircled her now
feverishly bright eyes; her mouth trembled visibly; and as Ruth drew
aside, her mother's shaking fingers held tight to her hand.

"I have nothing in the world to do," replied Levice, heartily; "I am
going to sit right here and get interested."

"You will have to submit to a friendly cross-examination, Mrs. Levice,"
said the physician.

He drew a chair up before her and took both her hands in his. As
Ruth relinquished her hold, she encountered a pair of pleasantly
authoritative gray eyes, and instantly divining their expression, left
the room.

She descended a few steps to the windowed landing. Here she intended
joining the doctor on his way down. Probably her father would follow
him; but it was her intention to intercept any such plan. A fog had
arisen, and the struggling rosy beams of the sun glimmered opalescently
through the density. Ruth thought it would be clear by noon, when she
and her mother could go for a stirring tramp. She stood lost in thought
till a firm footfall on the stairs aroused her.

"I see Miss Levice here; don't come down," Kemp wa