“Ah,” said Mrs. Carter, rising, “I must send you yours, Mr. Smith. Mr. Frobisher, you may leave your patient to Molly and Laura; so join us at breakfast. No; we will let Mr. Whacker sleep after his vigils as long as he can. Now, Laura, you must take good care of Mr. Smith.” That morning Mary, as was her wont, came across the street to inquire after the Don, and found the family lingering around the breakfast-table; and the girls had hastened to tell her of the improved condition of the patient. Mr. Carter and Charley had lit their pipes, and there was a lively clatter of female voices. “Girls,” said Mrs. Carter, rising, “I am going upstairs now to look after our invalid, and I think I shall have some news for you when I come down.” “I can’t imagine what you expect to ascertain,” said Alice, “unless it be how many slices of toast Mary’s starry-eyed one has consumed.” “You see,” continued Mrs. Carter, smiling, “it is proper, now that he has recovered the use of his faculties, to write to his friends to let them know where and how he is. They must be terribly uneasy, whoever they are. But I cannot write to them without first learning of him their names and addresses. Do you see?” “Capital! and perfectly legitimate,” cried Alice. “And mind, mother, just so soon as he gives you the names find an excuse—you will need pen, ink, and paper, you know—find an excuse and fly to us,—yes, _fly_, and tell us all about it. Don’t write the letters first, for we shall be positively dying to know who he is. Now mind, mother dear, _fly_!” Charley rose hastily, knocked the ashes out of his pipe, and laid it on the mantel-piece. “Won’t you fill up?” said Mr. Carter. “Not just at present,” said Charley, looking at Mrs. Carter. “Very well,” said Mrs. Carter, “I shall fly,” and she looked down at her plump figure and laughed; “and do try to live till I get back.” “May I accompany you?” asked Charley. There were three little shrieks from the girls. “Talk about a woman’s curiosity,” exclaimed Alice; and they all lifted up their hands and let them fall upon the table. Charley, who was just passing out into the hall, turned and smiled. It was the answer that he returned to most things that were said to him. “By the way,” said Mrs. Carter, turning round in the hall, “when I come to think of it, Mr. Frobisher, it seems to me that it would be as well for you to offer your services instead of me.” And she re-entered the dining-room. Charley stood looking down upon the floor and twirling his thumbs. “Don’t you think so?” “Will you allow me to be perfectly frank?” said Charley, looking up. “Certainly,” said Mrs. Carter, with a surprised look; “what is your opinion?” “That neither of us ask the names and addresses of his friends.” “Really? Of course, if you have any reason to think—if you know anything—” “I know nothing whatever, but—” “But what?” gasped the girls. Charley stood silent for a time, stroking his yellow beard. “Sphinx No. 2,” said Alice.