"Then you are a coward!" snapped Miss Bird, in utter disgust. Mr Cleave had proved but a backboneless creature when she had relied on his support. It is highly probable that Miss Bird would have proceeded to put further questions of a personal nature to Koko had not Mary popped her head into the room with "Dinner’s quite ready, mum." Miss Bird’s face cleared. She could eat twice as much as anyone else in the house (not excepting Frank), and the announcement of dinner always put her in a good temper. Whilst Koko and Jim had been upstairs, before entering the drawing-room, Jim had given his friend a brief sketch of the situation. For, it must be remembered, this was their first meeting since Koko had read old Dr Mortimer’s drastic and final epistle. When Jim told Koko that this house was the home of Miss Dora Maybury, Koko had smacked his chum on the back and enjoined him to go in and win; but when Jim mentioned Jefferson, and the latter’s attitude with regard to Dora, Koko whistled thoughtfully. Two things he decided. Firstly, that Jim must stay on at No. 9 at all hazards; and, secondly, that the plan which had been in course of formation in his mind from the moment Dr Taplow had told Jim to go, must take an immediate and definite shape. That plan Koko intended to broach to Jim after dinner. But Fate willed otherwise. The meal progressed quietly, the presence of a stranger possibly having a restraining influence on the shrewish outbursts of Miss H. R. Maybury, the cheeky utterances of Master Frank, and the voluble rebukes of Mrs Maybury. Jim was seated between Miss Bird and Mr Cleave, the two girls, with Frank and Koko, facing him. Dora, as a matter of fact, sat immediately opposite Jim. "Well, Dr Mortimer," presently observed Mr Maybury, "you have not come through your first day’s work unscathed, I see." For Mr Maybury felt sure that Jim would be able to give a satisfactory account of the proceedings. Miss Bird grunted; Mr Cleave cast a glassy eye on the broccoli. Both waited for Jim’s defence. Jim laughed. "No," he said, "I met a Hooligan." "Dear me! So soon!" "I thought it advisable, in view of the possibility of my being some time in the district, to take a strong line from the beginning. So I led off by tackling what turned out to be the worst man of the lot." "You have shown them that you are not a person to be trifled with?" suggested Mr Maybury, approvingly. "That was my idea. But you may be interested to hear that another man has been put in permanent charge of the surgery----" "Then you are no longer employed by Dr Taplow?" interrupted Mrs Maybury. "That is so," said Jim. "But he will still work in Mount Street," put in Koko, quickly, "as he is setting up a practice there on his own account."