“You don’t like children, I reckon,” Irving continued, as the doctor drew back from the little feet which unconsciously touched his lap. “No, I hate them,” was the answer, spoken half savagely, for at that moment a tiny hand was deliberately laid on his, as Willie showed a disposition to be friendly. “I hate them,” and the little hand was pushed rudely off. Wonderingly the soft, large eyes of the child looked up to his. Something in their expression riveted the doctor’s gaze as by a spell. There were tears in the baby’s eyes, and the pretty lip began to quiver. The doctor’s finer feelings, if he had any, were touched, and muttering to himself, “I’m a brute,” he slouched his riding cap still lower down upon his forehead, and turning away to the window, relapsed into a gloomy reverie, in which thoughts of _Lily_ were strangely mingled with thoughts of the dark-haired ’Lina, his bride elect, waiting for him in New York. The Dr. was more than half tired of his engagement, and ere returning to the city, he was going to Terrace Hill to have a long talk with _Anna_, to tell her frankly of his fears that ’Lina never could be congenial to them, and perhaps he would tell her the _whole_ of Lily’s story. But how should he commence a tale which would shock his gentle sister so terribly? He did not know, and while devising the best method, he forgot the two little feet which in their bright-colored hose were stretched out until they rested entirely upon his lap, while the tiny face was nestled against Irving Stanley’s fatherly bosom, where it lay for hours, until Adah, waking from her refreshing slumber, came forward to relieve him. “You had better not go on this morning. You ought to rest,” Irving said to Adah, when at last the train stopped in Albany. “I have a few moments to spare. I will see that you are comfortable. You are going to Snowdon, I think you said,” and taking Willie in his arms he conducted Adah to the nearest hotel. There were but a few moments ere he must leave, and standing by her side, he said, “The meeting with you has been to me a pleasant incident, and I shall not soon forget it. I trust we may meet again. There is my card,” and he placed it in her hand.