"But she thinks she is--which is worse," laughed Ruth. Then to the doctor: "Don't mind him. He is the most indulgent of husbands after all. I will remain. I told you that I have been trained to the work of nursing." "I see you have, Madam," said the doctor cheerfully, and he went into the other room where Mrs. Judson lay groaning and sobbing on the bed. John Ryder, much vexed but in control of himself now, said decidedly: "Even the most indulgent husband must put down his foot some time, Ruth. If that woman is not well enough to be removed to her own rooms by morning we will let her have this apartment and take another suite. You can play the Good Samaritan until then if you so desire. But remember! after this, and for the remainder of our honeymoon, if we see any despoiled victim lying by the roadside we will emulate the Jews and pass by on the other side." He did not even kiss her as he passed out, and Ruth stood looking after him with quivering lips. Everything that had gone before was by chance, and unlucky. But this was actually the first jarring note in the honeymoon! CHAPTER XV THE CAT SHOWS HER CLAWS Ryder had got all over the desire for human company. He did not even care to ask how White was getting along, and the doctor had said not a word about the man. Ryder was just about worn out. What he wanted was rest and sleep. He sought the parlor, determined to find a comfortable chair there, in spite of Miss Solomons. But the house detective did not appear to be present. James had fallen into a chair himself, and was snoring with his head upon the back of the seat. Mr. Cudger was sleeping as peacefully as a child. "The Cheesemonger" could have been stolen by anybody who desired a new sail for a catboat, for instance, and had a sharp knife to cut away the canvas from its frame. Ryder settled into a chair with a groan, first being sure that it was unoccupied. He closed his eyes. He was almost asleep when this disturbing thought partially aroused him: "_Ruth a trained nurse_? She spoke of it before. But she never told me aboard the _Minnequago_. I remember distinctly that she said she had learned nothing she could turn to good account, now that she was left to her own resources, save her talent for stage entertainment. "Humph! perhaps nursing isn't a well paid profession in England. In America, I believe, when a trained nurse enters one's home, one might as well hand her the bankbook. "Don't understand it," said this new-made cynic. "Huh! There's a lot of things I don't understand. One is, _Why is a honeymoon?_ "I've heard it said a man gets his eyes opened after he's married. I swear my vision is fast becoming clouded. There are a lot of things I want explained. Goodness! am I developing suspicious qualities that I never knew I possessed before? It does seem as though a dozen things poor Ruth has said puzzle me mightily.