At that moment Millard's valet, Robert, in the capacity of pioneer and pilot, knocked at the door. When Millard opened it he said, "Dr. Gunstone, sir," and stood aside to let the physician pass. Gunstone made a little hurried bow to Millard, and, without waiting for an introduction, bowed with his usual deference to Mrs. Martin. "Good-morning, madam; is this the little sufferer?" at the same time making a hurried bow of courtesy to Phillida as a stranger; but as he did so, he arrested himself and said in the fatherly tone he habitually used with his young women patients, "How do you do? You came to see me last year with--" "My mother, Mrs. Callender," said Phillida. "Yes, yes; and how is your mother, my dear?" "Quite well, thank you, doctor." The doctor dispatched these courtesies with business-like promptness, and then settled himself to an examination of little Tommy. "This is diphtheria," he said; "you will want a physician in the neighborhood. Let's see, whom have you?" This to Millard. Millard turned to his aunt. She looked at Phillida. "There's Dr. Smith around the corner," said Phillida. Dr. Gunstone said, "Dr. Smith?" inquiringly to himself. But the name did not seem to recall any particular Smith. "And Dr. Beswick in Seventeenth street," said Phillida. "Beswick is a very good young fellow, with ample hospital experience," said Gunstone. "Can you send for him at once?" Robert, who stood alert without the door, was told to bring Dr. Beswick in the carriage, and in a very short space of time Beswick was there, having left Mrs. Beswick sure that success and renown could not be far away when her husband was called on Gunstone's recommendation, and fetched in a coupe under the conduct of what seemed to her a coachman and a footman. Beswick's awkwardness and his abrupt up-and-downness of manner contrasted strangely with Dr. Gunstone's simple but graceful ways. A few rapid directions served to put the case into Beswick's hands, and the old doctor bowed swiftly to all in the room, descended the stairs, and, having picked his way hurriedly through a swarm of children on the sidewalk, entered the carriage again, and was gone. Millard looked at his watch, remembered that he had had no breakfast, and prepared to take his leave. "Thank you, Charley, ever so much," said his aunt. "I don't know what I should have done without you." "Miss Callender is the one to thank," said Millard, scarcely daring to look at her, as he bade her and Dr. Beswick good-morning. When he had reached the bottom of the long flight of stairs, Millard suddenly turned about and climbed upward once more. "Miss Callender," he said, standing in the door, "let me speak to you, please."