“Oh, it is an open secret,” retorted the doctor, enjoying her embarrassment, while the attendant smiled wisely. “Your New York physician evidently intends to carry matters with a high hand and not waste any precious time, for he formally announced his engagement this morning; so of course the news has spread like wildfire.” Doubtless he thought that he had jested enough upon the subject, for he changed the topic. After a few questions he sent the attendant from the room upon some errand; then he said abruptly and earnestly to Salome: “My dear,” with a tender inflection, for he had become very fond of the girl, “I just want to assure myself that everything is all right, for somehow I have grown to feel a deep interest in you, and I should be very sorry to have any sorrow come to you in the future, because of a too hasty decision upon so important a matter. You are sure, my child, that you will be happy in the life opening before you? Tell me, Salome, frankly, as you would tell your own father.” “Dr. Hunt, you have been very kind to me ever since I came here, and I will confide in you freely,” Salome answered, with heightened color. “From the moment that you began to infuse the life-current from my veins into Dr. Winthrop’s I have felt as if I belonged to him and he to me—as if our very souls had been united with the union of our blood. Doubtless some people would affirm that this was only a sentimental idea. It may be so; if it is I cannot help it. To me it is a veritable fact, and I believe if we had been separated—if Dr. Winthrop had gone away and I had never seen him again—he would have carried away so much of my life with him that I should never have rallied; I should have died in spite of all your kind care.” Dr. Hunt believed it too, even while he marvelled at the curious result which his experiment had produced; a result of which he had not had the remotest presentiment. “You love him, Salome?” he said, regarding her with increasing tenderness. “With all my heart,” she murmured tremulously. “Then Heaven bless you! I believe you will be a very happy woman in the future,” the good physician said heartily, adding: “Dr. Winthrop is an unusually talented man and a skilled physician. I believe he is a noble man, too—upright and conscientious, and I value his friendship highly. He belongs to a fine family, as perhaps you already know—a very wealthy family, too, and considering all things, I am only too glad to surrender my favorite nurse to him, since I cannot keep her here. And I also believe, Salome, that you will get well and strong under the influence of this new happiness.” “I know I shall,” she responded confidently, for, with the deep joy in her heart, the conviction had been growing upon her all day. CHAPTER V. A ROMANTIC WEDDING. Salome grew very thoughtful after Dr. Hunt left her.