the beautiful roses for ye, darlint?"

"Please," answered the childish treble.

Ruth hesitated a second, and then rising and bending over her said, --

"No; I know of a better way. Wouldn't you like to have me fasten them in
your belt? There, now you can smell them all the time."

"Roses is what she likes mostly," proceeded the mother, garrulously, "and
she's for giving the doctor one every time she can when he comes. Faith!
it's about all he do get for his goodness, for what with--"

The sudden opening of the folding-door interrupted her flow of talk.
Seeing the doctor standing on the threshold as a signal for the next in
waiting to come forward, the poor woman arose preparatory to helping her
child into the consulting-room.

"Let me help Mamie, Mrs. O'Brien," said he, coming toward her. At the same
moment the elegant-looking woman rose from her chair and swept toward him.

"I believe it is my turn," she said, in response to his questioning
salutation.

"Certainly, if you came before Mrs. O'Brien. If so, walk in," he answered,
moving the portiere aside for the other to enter.

"Sure, Doctor," broke in Mrs. O'Brien, anxiously, "we came in together."

"Indeed!" He looked from the florid, flustered face to the haughtily