* * * * * It was a lovely Sabbath in May. The doctor's wife had been out on the veranda, looking about her. Everywhere was bloom and beauty, fragrance and song. Long she sat in silent contemplation of the scene. At last a drowsiness stole over her and she went in and settled herself for a doze in the big easy chair. Soon a tinkling fell upon her drowsy ear. "Oh! that must have been the telephone. I wonder if it was two rings or three--I'd better listen," she said with a sigh as she pulled herself up. "Is this Dr. Blank?" The voice was faint and indistinct. "Hello?" said Mary's husband's voice, with the rising inflection. "Hello?" A more pronounced rise. No answer. "Hello!" falling inflection. Here Mary interposed. "It's some lady, Doctor, I heard her." "Hello!" with a fiercely falling inflection. "Dr. Blank," said the faint voice, "I forgot how you said to take those red tablets." Mary caught all the sentence though only the last three words came distinctly. "Yes?" Her husband's 'yes' was plainly an interrogation waiting for what was to follow. She understood. He had heard only the words "those red tablets." Again she must interpose. "Doctor, she says she forgot how you told her to take those red tablets." "O! Why, take one every--" Mary hung up the receiver and went back to resume her interrupted nap. She settled back on the cushions and by and by became oblivious to all about her. Sweetly she slept for awhile then started up rubbing her eyes. She went hurriedly to the 'phone and put the receiver to her ear. Silence. "Hello?" she said. No answer. Smiling a little foolishly she went back to her chair. "It isn't surprising that I dreamed it." For a few minutes she lay looking out into the snow flakes of the cherry blooms. Then came the bell--three rings. "I hope it's John asking me to drive to the country," she thought as she hurried to the 'phone. It was not. It was a woman's voice asking, "How much of that gargle must I use at a time?" "Oh dear," thought Mary, "what questions people do ask! When a gargler is a-gargling, I should think she could _tell_ how much to use." The doctor evidently thought so too for he answered with quick impatience, "Aw-enough to _gargle_ with." Then he added, "If it's too strong weaken it a little." "How much water must I put in it?" Mary sighed hopelessly and stayed to hear no more. Again she sank back in her chair hoping fervently that no more foolish questions were to rouse her from it. When she was dozing off the bell rang so sharply she was on her feet and at the 'phone almost before she knew it. "Doctor, the whole outfit's drunk again down here." A woman's voice was making the announcement. "Is that so?" The doctor's voice was calm and undisturbed. "Yes. The woman's out here in the street just jumpin' up and down. I think _she's_ about crazy." "She hasn't far to go." "Her father's drunk too and so's her husband. Will you come down?"