E-text prepared by Al Haines Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 22883-h.htm or 22883-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/8/8/22883/22883-h/22883-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/8/8/22883/22883-h.zip) DOCTOR LUTTRELL'S FIRST PATIENT by ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY Author of "Little Miss Muffet," "Cousin Mona," "The Mistress of Brae Farm," "Esther," Etc. [Frontispiece: "I hope you do not think I was wrong?"] Philadelphia J. B. Lippincott Company 1900 Copyright, 1896, by J. B. Lippincott Company. _Contents._ CHAPTER I. AT THE CORNER HOUSE CHAPTER II. THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER CHAPTER III. AUNT MADGE CHAPTER IV. DR. LUTTRELL'S FIRST PATIENT CHAPTER V. A VISIT TO GALVASTON HOUSE CHAPTER VI. "I REMIND YOU OF SOMEONE?" CHAPTER VII. BLOWING BUBBLES CHAPTER VIII. "'TIS A LOVE TOKEN, I RECKON" CHAPTER IX. THE CHRISTMAS GUEST CHAPTER X. A GENTLEMANLY TRAMP CHAPTER XI. THE NIGHT-BELL RINGS CHAPTER XII. GRETA CHAPTER XIII. FRESH COMPLICATIONS CHAPTER XIV. AN EVENTFUL DAY CHAPTER XV. "THEY WERE BOTH TO BLAME" CHAPTER XVI. BUSY DAYS CHAPTER XVII. PRODIGAL SONS CHAPTER XVIII. AUNT MADGE GIVES HER OPINION CHAPTER XIX. DAME FORTUNE SMILES CHAPTER XX. "SOMEBODY'S CRUTCH" CHAPTER XXI. SUNSHINE AND CLOUDS CHAPTER XXII. "YOU MUST NOT LOSE HEART" CHAPTER XXIII. "I HAVE COME TO STAY" CHAPTER XXIV. "NOT YET" _Illustrations_ "I hope you do not think I am wrong?" . . . _Frontispiece_ "Oh, Marcus, how happy we are!" "Olive, look what Mr. Gaythorne has given me" Mr. Gaythorne sat in his great ebony chair "It is beautiful--it is perfectly charming!" "They both looked so comfortable and contented" Doctor Luttrell's First Patient CHAPTER I. AT THE CORNER HOUSE. "Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish."--_Epictetus_. There is an old adage, worn almost threadbare with continual use, "When poverty looks in at the door, love flies out at the window," and, doubtless, there is an element of truth in the saying; nevertheless, though there were lines of care on Marcus Luttrell's face, and in the strong sunlight the seams of his wife's black gown looked a little shiny, there was still peace, and the patience of a great and enduring affection in the corner house at Galvaston Terrace. When the brass plate, glittering with newness, had been first affixed to the door, Marcus Luttrell's heart had been sanguine with hope, and he had brought his young _fiancee_ to see it. The small, narrow house, with its dark, square entry, its double parlours communicating with folding-doors, and the corner room, that would do for a surgery, had seemed to them both a most desirable abode.