The last trill brought him close to Dr. Spenlove. "Friend, friend!" cried the doctor, "a word with you, for charity's sake." Mr. Moss did not disregard the appeal. Slipping off his right glove, and thereby displaying two fingers decorated with diamond rings, he fished a couple of coppers from a capacious pocket, and thrust them into Dr. Spenlove's outstretched palm. Dr. Spenlove caught his hand and said: "No, no, it is not for that. Will you kindly tell me----" "Why," interrupted Mr. Moss, "it is Dr. Spenlove!" "Mr. Moss," said Dr. Spenlove, with a sigh of relief, "I am glad it is you--I am glad it is you." "Not gladder than I am," responded Mr. Moss jovially. "Even in weather like this I shouldn't care to be anybody else but myself." This feeble attempt at humor was lost upon Dr. Spenlove. "You have come from the direction I am taking, and you may have seen a person I am looking for--a woman with a baby in her arms--a poor woman, Mr. Moss, whom I am most anxious to find." "I've come from the Hard, but I took no account of the people I passed. A man has enough to do to look after himself, with the snow making icicles in his hair, and the wind trying to bite his nose off his face. The first law of nature, you know, doctor, is----" "Humanity," interrupted Dr. Spenlove. "No, no, doctor," corrected Mr. Moss; "number one's the first law--number one, number one." "You did not meet the woman, then?" "Not to notice her. You've a bad cough, doctor; you'll have to take some of your own medicine." He laughed. "Standing here is enough to freeze one." "I am sorry I troubled you," said Dr. Spenlove. "Good-night." He was moving away when Mr. Moss detained him. "But look here, doctor, you're not fit to be tramping the streets in this storm; you ought to be snuggled up between the blankets. Come home with me, and Mrs. Moss shall make you a hot grog." Dr. Spenlove shook his head and passed on. Mr. Moss gazed at the retreating figure, his thoughts commingling. "A charitable man, the good doctor, a large-hearted gentleman. 'Tardi si fa--' And poor as a church mouse. What woman is he running after? Mrs. Moss would give her a piece of her mind for taking out a baby on such a night. Too bad to let him go alone, but Mrs. Moss will be waiting up for me. She won't mind when I tell her. I've a good mind to---- Yes, I will." And after the doctor went Mr. Moss, and caught up to him. "Doctor, can I be of any assistance to you?" "I shall be glad of your help," said Dr. Spenlove eagerly. "I'm rather worn out--I have had a hard day." "It's a trying life, the life of a doctor," said Mr. Moss sympathetically as they walked slowly on. "We were talking of it at home only a month ago when we were discussing what we should put Michael to--our eldest boy, doctor." "You have a large family," observed Dr. Spenlove.