"Times change," said the younger man. "I have performed such an operation successfully myself. I feel confident, sir--" but Roger had caught his hand now with a sob that echoed wildly through the quiet room. "Oh, Doctor Ralph," he blurted with blazing, agonized eyes, "you don't--you can't mean, sir, that I'll walk and run like other boys--and--and climb the Cedar King--" his voice broke in a passionate fit of weeping. "Yes," said Doctor Ralph, huskily, "I mean just that. Dad and I, little man, we're going to do what we can." By the window Sister Madge buried her face in her hands. "Come, come, now Sister Madge," came the Doctor's kindly voice a little later, "you've cried enough, lass. Roger is fretting about you and Doctor Ralph here, he says he's going to take you for a little sleigh-ride if you'll honor him by going." Outside a Christmas moon rode high above a sparkling ice-bright world and as the sleigh shot away into its quiet glory, Ralph, meeting the dark, tear-bright eyes of Sister Madge, tucked the robes closer about her with a hand that shook a little. "'Gipsy' Hildreth!" he said suddenly, smiling, but the hated nickname to-night was almost a caress. "Tell me," Ralph's voice was very grave--"You've been sewing? Mother spoke of it." "There was nothing else," said Sister Madge. "I could not leave Roger." "And now Mother wants you to stay on with her. You--you'll do that?" "She is very lonely," said Madge uncertainly and Ralph bit his lip. "Mother lonely!" he said. "She didn't tell me that." "Roger is wild to stay," went on Madge, looking away--"but I--oh--I fear it is only their wonderful kindness. Still there's the Doctor's rheumatism--and he does need some one to keep his books." "Rheumatism!" said Ralph sharply. "Yes," nodded Madge in surprise--"didn't you know. It's been pretty bad this winter. He's been thinking some of breaking in young Doctor Price to take part of his practise now and perhaps all of it later." "Price!" broke out Ralph indignantly. "Oh--that's absurd! Price couldn't possibly swing Dad's work. He's not clever enough." "He's the only one there is," said Madge and Ralph fell silent. All about them lay a glittering moonlit country of peaceful, firelit homes and snowy hills--of long quiet roads and shadowy trees and presently Ralph spoke again. "You like all this," he said abruptly, "the quiet--the country--and all of it?" Sister Madge's black eyes glowed.