"Here you go again," he began discontentedly. "I wish I knew why." Rachel paused. It was difficult to do otherwise with a large and determined figure blocking a very narrow path. "I have ever so many things waiting at home for me to do." "At nine o'clock in the evening?" "At whatever hour I am through at Mrs. Robeson's." "I wish I could imagine something of what they are. It might relieve my mind a little." "Why, I will tell you," said Rachel with great appearance of frankness. "I have to do some mending for mother, read the evening paper for father, and set the bread. Then the clothes must be sprinkled for ironing in the morning." The doctor studied her face in the dimming light. "Who washed the clothes?" he asked bluntly. "Do you think you ought to ask?" said Rachel. "Yes. I'm in the habit of asking questions." "Of patients----" "Of everybody I care for. You don't have to answer, but if you don't I shall know who did the washing." "Yes, I did it," said Rachel steadily. "It is easily done." "And then you came over here and got breakfast?" "Not at all. I helped Mrs. Robeson and Mary McKaim get it. Doctor Barnes, do you know that you are standing directly in my path?" "Certainly," said the doctor. "It's what I'm here for." "Then I shall have to go back and take the road home." "If you do you will evade me only to encounter another man. Lockwood's keeping a ferret's eye on the Robeson house door; and I think Cathcart is already patrolling the road in front of your house." The girl turned. "You are making me feel very absurd," she said. "I want to go home, Doctor Barnes. Please let me pass you." "May I go with you?" "I would rather not." "Well, that's frank," he said, amusement and chagrin struggling for the uppermost. "I wonder I don't stalk angrily away----" "I wish you would." Roger Barnes threw back his head and laughed. "I wish you would give some other girls a leaf out of your book," he said. "The more you turn me down the more ardently I long to be with you; while the opposite sort of thing--I'll tell you, Miss Redding, if you want to be rid of me try these tactics: Say with a languishing smile, 'Oh, Doctor Barnes, won't you take me a little way down this lovely path?' Perhaps that will accomplish your ends. I've often felt an instant desire not to do the thing I'm begged to." "'Oh, Doctor Barnes,'" said Rachel Redding--and he caught the mischief in her tone--even Rachel could be mischievous, as Juliet had said--"'won't you take me a little way down this lovely path?'"