"Can I prevent fools suffering for their folly?" he asked. "The baby looks so ill," said Nellie, "and Mrs. Roberts is worn to a shadow." "Did you see Roberts?" asked Philip. "For a minute," said Nellie, "but he was very cold and disagreeable." "Thought you were tarred with the same brush as Dale, I suppose?" "Can't you do anything for 'em, Dale?" asked Mrs. Hodge. "I can send him a check." "He'll send it back," remarked Philip. "I wish he'd get out of the place." "Yes, he might as well be miserable somewhere else, mightn't he?" Dale glared at his friend, and relapsed into silence. Nevertheless, in spite of Philip's prediction, he sat down after dinner and wrote to Roberts, saying that he had heard that he was in temporary embarrassment, and urging him to allow Dale to be his banker for the moment; this would, Dale added, be the best way of showing that he bore no malice for Dale's letter. He sent a man with the note, ordering him to wait for an answer. The answer was not long in coming; the man was back in half an hour, bringing the Doctor's reply: Three months ago I should have thought it an honor to share my last crust with you, and no shame to ask half of all you had. Now I will not touch a farthing of your money until you come back to us. If your friends pay my wife further visits, I shall be obliged if they will look somewhat less keenly at my household arrangements. JAMES ROBERTS. "There is the snub you have brought on me!" exclaimed Dale angrily, flinging the letter to Nellie. "I might have known better than to listen to your stories." "Dale, Dale, it was every word true. How selfish he is not to think of his wife!" "Many people are selfish." "Is anything the matter, Dale?" "Oh, I'm infernally worried. I never get any peace." "Hadn't you a good time skating?" "No. I'm beginning to hate this place." "Oh, Dale, I've enjoyed my visit so much!" "Very glad to hear it, I'm sure." "You must have seen it; we've stayed so long. I've often told mamma we ought to be going." Dale lit a cigarette. "Indeed we have had no mercy on you, Dale; but the country and the rest are so delightful." "Hum--in some ways." "But I must be back at work. Mamma thought next Saturday would do." "As soon as that?" said Dale, with polite surprise. "Think how long we have been here." "Oh, don't go on Saturday!" Nellie's face brightened. "Don't you want us to?" she asked, with an eager little smile. Dale was going to be kind after all. "No. Why shouldn't you stay till Monday?" The face fell, the smile disappeared; but she answered, saving her self-respect: "Saturday is more convenient for--for arriving in town. I think we had better fix Saturday, Dale." "As you like. Sorry to lose you, Nell."