Then, suddenly, a new thought came to him. “And meantime, doctor,” said he, “what am I to tell Finnegan?” CHAPTER XIX One who has all the cares of humanity upon his shoulders, as Samuel had, is apt to find that it claims a good deal of time. Samuel did his best to keep his mind upon the weighty problems which he had to solve; but he found that he was continually distracted by the thought of Miss Gladys. Again and again her image would sweep over him, driving everything else from his mind. The vision of her beauty haunted him, sending his imagination upon all sorts of strange excursions and adventures. She had told him to come again; and he wondered how long he should wait. He was supposed to come to see Sophie--but that, of course, was absurd, for he saw Sophie every night at home. He waited three days; and then he could wait no longer. The hunger to see her was like a fire smoldering in him. In the morning, at eleven o'clock, he went to the house and Sophie came to the door. “I'll tell her you're here,” said she, understanding at once. She ran upstairs, and came back telling him to come. “And she's glad, Samuel!” exclaimed the child. “Won't you come, too?” he asked blunderingly. “No, she told me not to,” was Sophie's reply. So he went upstairs to Miss Wygant's own sitting room, and found her in a morning gown, even more beautiful than the one she had worn before. “You don't know how glad I am to see you,” she said. Samuel admitted that he didn't know; and he added, “And I don't know why you should be, Miss Gladys.” Miss Gladys stood looking at him. “You find things interesting, don't you?” she asked. “Why, yes, Miss Gladys,” he replied. “And I find things so tiresome.” “Tiresome!” gasped the boy. “Here--in this house!” “It seems strange to you, does it?” said she. “Why you have everything in the world!” he cried. “Yes, and I'm tired of everything.” The boy was looking at her in wonder. “It's true,” she said. “Everybody I meet is uninteresting--they live such dull and stupid lives. I'm shut up here in this town--I've got to spend a whole month here this summer!” Samuel gazed at her, and a wave of pity swept over him. He had felt for some time that she was not happy. So here was one more duty for him--he must help this beautiful young lady to a realization of her own good fortune. The thought set him athrill. “Ah, but Miss Gladys!” he exclaimed. “Think how much good you do!” “Good?” said she. “In what way?” “Why--think of Sophie! How happy you've made her.” “Yes,” she said dully. “I suppose so.” “And me!” he exclaimed. “Have I made you happy?” she inquired. And he answered, “I have never been so happy in my life.” All the wonder that was in his soul shone in his eyes, and arrested her gaze. They stood looking at each other; and then she came to him laughing. “Samuel,” she said, “you haven't got that tie right.”