em under the
X-ray; you couldn't operate on them; you had to deal with them by
faith. Kathryn was not lacking in imagination and she gave a fairly
accurate description of long, black hours and consequent pain--"here."
She touched the base of her brain. She vaguely recalled that the nerve
centres were in that locality.

Manly was impressed and while he was off on that scent, somehow
Northrup got into the conversation.

"I cannot help worrying about Brace, more for his mother's sake than
his." Kathryn looked very sweet and womanly, "He has been so ill and
the letter his mother has just received _is_ disturbing."

Here Kathryn quoted it and Manly grinned.

"That's all right," he said, shaking a bottle of pills. "It does a
human creature no end of good to run away at times. I often wonder why
more of us don't do it and come back keener and better."

"Some of us have duties." Kathryn looked noble and self-sacrificing.

"Some of us would perform them a darned sight better if we took the
half holiday now and then that the soul, or whatever you call it,
craves. Now Northrup ought to look to his job--it _is_ a job in his
case. You wouldn't expect a travelling salesman to hang around his
shop all the time, would you?"

Kathryn had never had any experience with travelling salesmen--she
wasn't clear as to their mission in life. So she said doubtfully:

"I suppose not."

"Certainly not! An office man is one thing; a professional man,
another; and these wandering Johnnies, like Northrup, still another
breed. He's been starving his scent--that's what I told him. Too much
_woman_ in his--and I don't mean to hurt you, Kathryn, but you ought
to get it into your system that marrying a man like Northrup is like
marrying a doctor or minister; you've got to have a lot of faith or
you're going to break your man."

Kathryn's eyes contracted, then she laughed.

"How charming you are, Doctor Manly, when you're making talk. Are
those pills bitter?" Kathryn reached out for them. "Not that I mind,
but I hate to be taken by surprise."

"They're as bitter as--well, they're quinine. You need toning up."

"You think I need a change?" The tone was pensive.

"Change?" Manly had a sense of humour. "Well, yes, I do. Go to bed
early. Cut out rich food; you'll be fat at forty if you don't, Miss
Kathryn. Take up some good physical work, not exercises. Really, it
would be a great thing for you if you discharged one of your maids."

"Which on