"How long has he been _gone_? Maybe I'll get some information after a while." Mary longed to speak. Why hadn't she done so at first. If she thrust herself in now it would make her out an eavesdropper. But this was unbearable. She opened her mouth to speak when the old man answered. "He's been gone over an hour now, I reckon." "Then he'll soon be back. Will you be there when he comes?" "Yes ma'am." "Then tell him to come up to Mrs. Dorlan's." "To Mrs. Who's?" "Mrs. _Dorlan's_." "I didn't ketch the name." "_Mrs. Dorlan's_, on Brownson street." "Mrs. Torren's?" "MISS-ES--DOR-LAN'S!" shouted the voice. Mary sighed fiercely and clinched her teeth unconsciously. "I _will_ speak," she thought, when the old voice ventured doubtingly, "Mrs. Dorlan's?" "That's it. Mrs. Dorlan's on Brownson street, will you remember it?" "Mrs. Dorlan's, on Brownson street." "That's right. Please tell him just as soon as he comes to come right up." "All right--I'll tell him." "Poor old fellow!" said Mary as she turned from the 'phone, "but I don't want to go through any more ordeals like that. It was a good deal harder for me than for the other woman." The doctor came down late to dinner. "You got Mrs. Dorlan's message did you?" "Yes, I'll go up there right after dinner." He looked at his wife with peculiar admiration. "How did you know what was wanted with me out in the country?" he asked. With a little pardonable pride she replied: "Oh, I just felt it. Women have ways of understanding each other that men never attain to. Is it a boy or a girl added to the world today?" "Neither," said the doctor placidly, helping himself to a roll. Chagrin overspread her face. "Well," she said with an embarrassed smile, "I erred on mercy's side, and it _might_ have happened in just that way, John, and you know it." The doctor laughed. "There was mighty little the matter out there--they didn't need a doctor." "Are they good pay?" "Good as old wheat." "Then there are compensations." * * * * * Some hours later when the 'phone rang, Mary went to explain that the doctor had 'phoned her he would be out about twenty minutes. But she found no chance to speak. A spirited dialogue was taking place between a young man and a maid: "Where _are_ you, Jack?" "I'm right here." "Smarty! Where _are_ you!" "In Dr. Blank's office." "What are you there for?" "I'm waiting for the doctor and to while away the time thought I'd call you up." Then it was his ring that Mary had answered. "I ought to hang this receiver right up," thought she, but instead she held it, her face beaming with a sympathetic smile. "Are you feeling better today, Dolly?" "Yes, I'm better." "Able to go to the show then, tonight?" "_Yes_, I'm able to go." Here a thin small voice put in, "No, you're not able! You're not going." "Mamma says,--" began a pouting voice. "I heard what she said," said Jack, laughing. "Have you been up all day?"