"Well, I'll see, but I'm afraid----" "If he succeeds," laughed Tod, "it will be the first time your relationship to Jimmy has been of the slightest advantage." "Won't you help us, Dr. McMutrie?" pleaded Mrs. Marsh. "We're so anxious to see her! That will be the second time you've come to our rescue. Don't say no. Let us see her, there's a dear man! If you insist, they can't refuse----" The examiner turned to the superintendent. "I don't see why Mrs. Marsh should not see her niece. Send for her, Mr. Spencer." The superintendent hesitated. "Mr. Cooley's orders were very positive," he replied. "Never mind Cooley's orders," retorted the other. "The young lady is under my charge. Have her sent here at once. Is Professor Bodley here?" "Yes--sir----" The superintendent went out to obey the order, and the examiner turned to the others. "Hum!" he smiled significantly. "I think I had better go and send her here myself." As he turned to go he bowed and said: "I shall see you again, I hope." "I hope so," smiled Mrs. Marsh graciously. "We dine at the hotel at seven-thirty. Won't you join us?" Dr. McMutrie bowed. "You are very good." With another ceremonious salute, he opened the door leading to the female ward and disappeared. "Honestly, mother," gasped Tod, "you take my breath away. You've seen that man only once, and yet you call him 'dear man' and squeeze his arm and all that kind of thing. He must think you're crazy." "I wish you wouldn't be so critical, son," replied his mother, with mock severity. "We were asking a favor. It is no time to be freezingly formal." "Freezingly formal?" echoed the young man. "Why, you've invited him to dinner!" "Well, you shall chaperon us," she answered, laughing. More seriously she went on: "Besides, I had an object! Your stepfather, Mr. Marsh, has followed me here!" "Jimmy?" cried Tod, surprised. "Did you see him?" "No, he came to the hotel and tried to force his way in. I refused to see him, but he wouldn't go, so I called the porter and had him removed from the door of my rooms." Tod rubbed his hands gleefully. "Good!" he cried joyfully. "That's bully!" "He acted like a madman," went on his mother. "He said he was sorry and would make any amends if only I would forgive him, but I wouldn't listen." "I told you what you might expect with a man of that kind. I don't see how you ever married him. I ought to have kicked him downstairs when he first patted me on the head and called me sonny boy." "To think," wailed Mrs. Marsh, "that his millions consisted of the property left to this poor girl by her father. My whole life wasted----" "Oh, come now, mother," protested Tod, "not your whole life! You lived happily with my father for eleven years." "I mean--my widowhood has been wasted," replied his mother, with a sigh.