"Your liver’s torpid, your digestion is all wrong, and you are on the verge of a nervous collapse." "Well, doctor, what do you advise?" "Complete change." "Well, don’t send me too far. I have big interests on hand just now." "Cessation of all business." "Don’t know how I can manage that." "Get on a sailing vessel. Stay on it for three months." "I should die for want of an interest in life." "Take my advice in time, Mr. Stillwater. It will save future trouble." "I wonder how Indiana would like a sailing trip," thought Stillwater. "If the folks were along I guess we’d manage to whoop it up, all right. Well, I’ll think it over, Doctor. Of course, I couldn’t do anything without consulting the ladies." Stillwater smiled in a confidential way, as much as to say, "You know how it is yourself." The noted authority answered by a look of contemptuous pity. "See you again, Doctor." As he arrived at the hotel he was hailed by Indiana, driving up in a hansom. "Been to see the doctor?" "Yes; I’ve got lots to tell." "Jump in and we’ll drive around the park. The others won’t be home yet." Stillwater made a feint of hesitating. "Perhaps I’d better wait till we’re all together." "Well, you can jump in anyway, and come for a drive," said Indiana. "I’ll give him five minutes," she thought, "before he tells me all he knows." "The air will do me a whole lot of good," remarked Stillwater, acting on her advice. It was a clear cold day, in the latter part of February, and the wind blew keenly in their faces as they bowled leisurely up Fifth Avenue. "Say, Indiana," after three minutes perusal of the promenaders. "Yes, pa—it’s coming," she thought. "How would you like to go on a sailing trip for three months; the whole kit and crew of us? We’d have everything our own way; I’d see to that. We’d run the whole show. On the water for three months. What do you think of it—eh?" "Bully!" shouted Indiana, throwing her muff up in the air, and catching it deftly. "I thought you’d like it," said Stillwater, chuckling. "What did the doctor say, pa?" said Indiana breathlessly. "What did he say was the matter with you? Tell me—you must tell me." "Now, Indiana, give me a chance. I’m going to tell you. Didn’t I start to give away the whole snap?" "But you’re taking such a long time, pa," she said, tapping the floor of the hansom nervously. "Well, when it comes down to it, there isn’t much the matter with me," answered Stillwater reassuringly. "He said something about a torpid liver." "Torpid liver!" echoed Indiana, looking as if she were just brought face to face with the great calamity of her life. "Now, that’s what I was afraid of," said Stillwater. "Please don’t go on like that before your ma, Indiana. It’s not serious." "No?" echoed Indiana helplessly. "Why, it’s nothing at all," Stillwater laughed hilariously. "Torpid livers—people have them every day." "Well, what else?" said Indiana.