Mrs. Martin was driven to the very verge of distraction by the sense of Tommy's danger and the necessity she was under of suppressing her feelings while this woman, crank or impostor, held possession of the child and of her house. Not to disturb Tommy, she affected a peaceful attitude toward the professor of Christian sorcery, whom, in the anguish of her spirit, she would have liked to project out of a window into the dizzy space occupied by pulleys and clothes-lines. Footsteps came and went past her door, but there was as yet no interruption to Miss Bowyer's pow-wow. At length there came a step on the stairs, and a rap. Mrs. Martin laid Tommy on the bed and opened the door. Charley beckoned her to be silent and to come out. "What is the name of the faith-healer, Aunt Hannah?" he whispered. "Miss Bowyer." "Does she still refuse to leave?" "Oh, yes! She declares she will not leave." "You want her out?" "Yes; I want a doctor," said Mrs. Martin, giving her hands a little wring. "Tell Miss Bowyer that there is a gentleman outside the door who wishes to see her. Whenever the door is shut, do you fasten it inside." "Miss Bowyer, there's a gentleman inquiring for you outside," said Mrs. Martin when she returned. Miss Bowyer opened the door suspiciously, standing in the doorway as she spoke. "Did you wish to see me?" "Are you Miss Bowyer?" "Yes,"--with a wave inflection, as though half inquiring. "Are you the Christian Scientist?" "Yes," said Miss Bowyer, "I am." "This is a case of diphtheria, isn't it?" "It's a case of belief in diphtheria. I have no doubt I shall be able to reduce the morbid action soon. The child is already in the state of interior perception," she said, seeing in Millard a possible patient, and coming a little further out of the door. "It's catching, I believe," said Millard. "Would you mind closing the door a moment while I speak with you?" Miss Bowyer peered into the room to see Mrs. Martin giving Tommy a drink. Feeling secure, she softly closed the door, keeping hold of the handle. Then she turned to Millard. "Did you wish to see me professionally?" she asked. "Well," said Millard, "I think you might call it professionally. I live over on the west side. Do you know where the Graydon apartment building is?" "Yes, oh, yes; I attended a patient near there once, in one of the brownstone houses on the other side of the street. He got well beautifully." "Well, I live in the Graydon," said Millard. "Yes," said Miss Bowyer, with a rising inflection, wondering what could be the outcome of this roundabout talk. "Is some member of your family sick?" she asked. A bolt clicked behind the metaphysical healer, who turned with the alarm of a trapped mouse and essayed to push the door. Then, remembering what seemed more profitable game in front, she repeated her question, but in a ruffled tone, "Some member of your family?" Charley laughed in spite of himself.