I beg a rose of you? No, not all. Well,
thank you, they will look wonderful in a certain room I am thinking of."

"Yes?" There was a note of inquiry in the little word in reply to Kemp's
pointed remark spoken as with a sudden purpose.

"Yes," he continued, leaning his back against the door and looking
earnestly down at the tall girl; "the room of a lad without even the
presence of a mother to make it pretty;" he paused as if noting the
effect of his words. "He is as lonely and uncomplaining as a tree would
be in a desert; these roses will be quite a godsend to him." He finished
his sentence pleasantly at sight of the expression of sympathy in the
lovely brown eyes.

"Do you think he would care to see any one?"

"Well," replied the doctor, slowly, "I think he would not mind seeing
you."

"Then will you tell me where he lives so that I can go there some day?"

"Some day? Why not to-day? Would it be impossible to arrange it?"

"Why, no," she faltered, looking at him in surprise.

"Excuse my curiosity, please; but the boy is in such pressing need of
some pleasurable emotion that as soon as I looked at you and your roses
I thought, 'Now, that would not be a bad thing for Bob.' You see, I was
simply answering a question that has bothered me all day. Then will you
drive there with me now?"

"Would not that be impossible with your driver?" she asked, searching
unaccountably for an excuse.

"I can easily dispense with him."

"But won't my presence be annoying?" she persisted, hesitating oddly.

"Not to me," he replied, turning quickly for his hat. "Come, then,
please, I must waste no more time in Bob's good cause."

She followed him silently with a sensation of quiet excitement.

Presently she found herself comfortably seated beside the doctor, who
drove off at a rapid pace.

"I think," said he, turning his horses westward, "I shall have to make a
call out here on Jones Street before going to Bob. You will not mind the
delay, Miss Levice, I hope."

"Oh, no. This is 'my afternoon off,' you know. Father is at home, and my
mother will not miss me in the least. I was just thinking--"

She came to a sudden pause. She had just remembered that she was
about to become communicative to a comparative stranger; the intent,
interested look in Kemp's eye as he glanced at her was the disturbing
element.

"You were thinking what?" he prompted with his eye now to the horses'
heads.

"I am afraid you would not be edified