He was a very handsome man, this doctor, and very young for his great reputation. He stood just within the threshold, with his hands resting on his hips in an attitude of much natural grace. Then he bowed politely and took in the two occupants of the room with a keen and concentrated gaze, through a pair of very light and polished glasses. The crippled boy was lying on the bed, and a beautiful, blooming, vigorous young girl was sitting by him in an attitude of expectation, and with a look upon her face that was tinged with a shy timidity. The doctor did not speak at first, having a fancy that she should open the conversation. She stood up, in evident hesitation what to do, and then said: “Did you want to speak to me about anything?” “I fancied you wanted to speak to me,” he said. “You are, perhaps, one of the doctors,” said Ethel, not knowing what else to say. “Yes, I’m one of the doctors,” he said, looking at her keenly all the time, with a self-possession which she found it impossible to imitate. She was so confused, in fact, that she could think of nothing to say but, “Which one?” “Dr. Hubert,” he said. “Oh, are there two Dr. Huberts?” she asked. “I didn’t know that.” “There is but one Dr. Hubert, so far as I know,” he said. “Why do you object to my being he?” “Oh, really!” said the girl, blushing. “Please excuse me. I thought he would be an old man.” “I’m glad he ain’t. I hate old men!” put in Bobby, unexpectedly. “Thank you very much, my boy,” said the doctor, advancing to the bed-side. “Your sister, it seems, is disappointed in me. I am afraid I will have to make a big effort to build up her confidence.” “Oh, no, no! It isn’t that,” said Ethel, eagerly; but he was plainly not attending to her words, as he bent over the bed and looked scrutinizingly into the boy’s face, and then took one of the small, thin hands into his, and held it in a watchful sort of way as he turned to the girl and said, with earnest interest: “Is his general health pretty good?” “Oh, yes, I think so,” began Ethel; but the child interrupted her, roughly: “Oh, yes, you think so!” he said. “As if you knew how I suffer! You never have an ache or a pain, and you don’t care how _I_ feel!” Ethel was about to speak, when the doctor, catching Bobby by the chin and looking intently into his eyes, said firmly: “Now look here, my youngster, I’m going to put a stop to this at once--do you understand? I’m not going to have your sister spoken to in any such a way as that. She’s your best friend, and she seems to be a good enough one for any boy alive, and I’d like to see you treat her with a little respect, if you please.” The boy flushed deeply as he realized the impression that he had made upon this new doctor, from whom he hoped so much. He was very angry with himself, and said quickly: