_Dr. Herd._ Natural! For a girl of twenty-three to taunt a middle-aged architect, whom she knew to be constitutionally liable to giddiness, never to let him have any peace till he had climbed a spire as dizzy as himself--and all for the fun of seeing him fall off--how in the world----! _Mrs. Herd._ (_laying the table for supper with dried fish and punch_). The younger generation have a keener sense of humour than we elder ones, HAUSTUS, and perhaps, after all, she was only a perplexing sort of allegory. _Dr. Herd._ Yes, that would explain her to some extent, no doubt. But how _he_ could be such an old fool! _Mrs. Herd._ That Miss WANGEL was a strangely fascinating type of girl. Why, even I myself---- _Dr. Herd._ (_sits down and takes some fish_). Fascinating? Well, goodness knows, I couldn't see _that_ at all. (_Seriously._) Has it never struck you, ALINE, that elderly Norwegians are so deucedly impressionable--mere bundles of overstrained nerves, hypersensitive ganglia. Except, of course, the Medical Profession. _Mrs. Herd._ Yes, of course; those in that profession are not so inclined to gangle. And when one has succeeded by such a stroke of luck as you have---- _Dr. Herd._ (_drinks a glass of punch_). You're right enough there. If I had not been called in to prescribe for Dr. RYVAL, who used to have the leading practice here, I should never have stepped so wonderfully into his shoes as I did. (_Changes to a tone of quiet chuckling merriment._) Let me tell you a funny story, ALINE; it sounds a ludicrous thing--but all my good fortune here was based upon a simple little pill. For if Dr. RYVAL had never taken it---- _Mrs. Herd._ (_anxiously_). Then you _do_ think it was the pill that caused him to----? _Dr. Herd._ On the contrary; I am perfectly sure the pill had nothing whatever to do with it--the inquest made it quite clear that it was really the liniment. But don't you see, ALINE, what tortures me night and day is the thought that it _might_ unconsciously have been the pill which----Never to be free from _that_! To have such a thought gnawing and burning always--always, like a moral mustard poultice! (_He takes more punch._) _Mrs. Herd._ Yes; I suppose there is a poultice of that sort burning on every breast--and we must never take it off either--it is our simple duty to keep it on. I too, HAUSTUS, am haunted by a fancy that if this Miss WANGEL were to ring at our bell now---- _Dr. Herd._ After she has been lost sight of for ten years? She is safe enough in some Sanatorium, depend upon it. And what if she _did_ come? Do you think, my dear good woman, that I--a sensible clear-headed general practitioner, who have found out all I know for myself--would let her play the deuce with me as she did with poor HALVARD? No, general practitioners don't _do_ such things--even in Norway!