"Why, no," she faltered, looking at him in surprise.

"Excuse my curiosity, please; but the boy is in such pressing need of some
pleasurable emotion that as soon as I looked at you and your roses I
thought, 'Now, that would not be a bad thing for Bob.' You see, I was
simply answering a question that has bothered me all day. Then will you
drive there with me now?"

"Would not that be impossible with your driver?" she asked, searching
unaccountably for an excuse.

"I can easily dispense with him."

"But won't my presence be annoying?" she persisted, hesitating oddly.

"Not to me," he replied, turning quickly for his hat. "Come, then, please,
I must waste no more time in Bob's good cause."

She followed him silently with a sensation of quiet excitement.

Presently she found herself comfortably seated beside the doctor, who drove
off at a rapid pace.

"I think," said he, turning his horses westward, "I shall have to make a
call out here on Jones Street before going to Bob. You will not mind the
delay, Miss Levice, I hope."

"Oh, no. This is 'my afternoon off,' you know. Father is at home, and my
mother will not miss me in the least. I was just thinking--"