"I first met Miss Dear" he resumed after a pause, speaking like a witness "last Christmas. I called in at Baker Street and found the superintendent had four of her disengaged nurses down with influenza. At her request I ran up to see them. Miss Dear was one of the number. Since that date she has summoned me at all hours on any and every pretext. What I can, I have done for her. She knows perfectly well her condition. She has her back against the wall. She's making a splendid fight. But the one thing that would give her a chance she obstinately refuses to do. Last summer I found for her employment in a nursing home in the South of France. She refused to go, though I told her plainly what would be the result of another winter in England." "Ought she to marry?" said Miriam suddenly, closely watching him. "Is she thinking of marrying, my dear girl" he answered, looking at his nails. "Well of course she _might_----" "Is there a sweetheart on the horizon?" "Well she inspires a great deal of affection. I think she is inspiring affection _now_." Dr. Densley threw back his head with a laugh that caught his breath and gasped in and out on a high tone, leaving his silent mouth wide open when he again faced Miriam with the laughter still in his eyes. "Tell me my dear girl" he said smiting her knee with gentle affection, "is there someone who would like to marry her?" "What I want to _know_" said Miriam very briskly "is whether such a person ought to know about the state of her health." She found herself cold and trembling as she asked. Miss Dear's eyes seemed fixed upon her. "The chance of a tuberculous woman in marriage" recited Dr. Densley "is a holding up of the disease with the first child; after the second she usually fails." Why children? A doctor could see nothing in marriage but children. This man saw women with a sort of admiring pity. He probably estimated all those women on the mantelpiece according to their child-bearing capacity. "Personally, I do not believe in forbidding the marriage of consumptives; provided both parties know what they are doing; and if they are quite sure they cannot do without each other. We know so little about heredity and disease, we do not know always what life is about. Personally I would not divide two people who are thoroughly devoted to each other." "No" said Miriam coldly. "Is the young man in a position to take her abroad?" "I can't tell you more than I know" said Miriam impatiently getting up. Dr. Densley laughed again and rose. "I'm very glad you came my dear girl. Come again soon and report progress. You're so near you can run in any time when you're free." "Thank you" said Miriam politely, scrutinising him calmly as he waved and patted her out into the hall. 10