The ting-a-ling-ling-ling--came as Mary was pouring boiling water into the teapot, just before six on a cool July evening. The maid was temporarily absent and Mary had been getting supper in a very leisurely way when she saw her husband step up on the porch. Then her leisure was exchanged for hurry. The doctor's appearance before meal time was the signal to which she responded automatically--he had to catch a train--someone must have him right away, or what not? She must not keep him waiting a minute. She pushed the teapot back on the stove and went swiftly to the 'phone. "Is this Dr. Blank's office?" asked a disturbed feminine voice. "No, his residence. He is here. Wait a minute, please, and I will call him." She hurried out to the porch, "Isn't papa here?" she asked of her small boy sitting there. "He _was_." "Well, where is he now?" "I don't know where he is." Provoking! She hurried back. He must be in the garden. An occasional impulse to hoe sometimes came over him (especially if the day happened to be Sunday). In the kitchen her daughter stood at a table cutting the bread for supper. "Go quick, and see if papa's in the garden. Tell him to come to the 'phone at once." Then she hurried back to re-assure the waiting one. But what could she tell her? Perhaps the doctor was not in the garden. She rushed out and beat her daughter in the race toward it. She sent her voice ahead, "John!" she called. "Yes." "Come to the 'phone this minute." Back she ran. Would she still be waiting? "Hello." "Hello." "Yes, the doctor's here. He's in the garden but will be in in just a minute. Hold the 'phone please." "Very well, thank you." It was a minute and a half before the doctor got there. "Hello." No answer. "Hello!" Silence. "_Hello!_" Still no reply. The doctor rang sharply for central. "Who was calling me a minute ago." "I don't know--we can't keep track of everybody who calls." The doctor hung up the receiver with an explosive monosyllable. Mary's patience was giving out too. "She couldn't wait one half minute. I told her you would be here in a minute and it took you a minute and a half." "She may be waiting at the office, I'll go down there." "I wouldn't do it," said Mary, warmly. "It's much easier for her to stay a half minute at the 'phone than for you to tramp back to the office." But he went. As his wife went back to the kitchen her daughter called, "Mother, did you take the loaf of bread in there with you?" "Why, no." "Well, it's not on the table where I was cutting it when you sent me after father." "It's on the floor!" shouted the small boy, peering through the window. "_I_ won't eat any of it!" "Don't, exquisite child," said his sister, stooping over to recover the loaf, dropped in her haste. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Mary went. "Isn't the doctor coming?" "He came. He called repeatedly, but got no reply." "I was right here with my ear to the 'phone the whole time."