"If you are walking in the same direction as I am, Dr. Jervis, we might
arrange the time of our proposed visit as we go along."

I was not slow to avail myself of this invitation, and a few seconds
later we left the house together, leaving Mrs. Hornby smiling fatuously
after us from the open door.

"Will eight o'clock suit you, do you think?" Miss Gibson asked, as we
walked up the street.

"It will do excellently, I should say," I answered. "If anything should
render the meeting impossible I will send you a telegram. I could wish
that you were coming alone, as ours is to be a business conference."

Miss Gibson laughed softly--and a very pleasant and musical laugh it
was.

"Yes," she agreed. "Dear Mrs. Hornby is a little diffuse and difficult
to keep to one subject; but you must be indulgent to her little
failings; you would be if you had experienced such kindness and
generosity from her as I have."

"I am sure I should," I rejoined; "in fact, I am. After all, a little
diffuseness of speech and haziness of ideas are no great faults in a
generous and amiable woman of her age."

Miss Gibson rewarded me for these highly correct sentiments with a
little smile of approval, and we walked on for some time in silence.
Presently she turned to me with some suddenness and a very earnest
expression, and said--