on a level with the doctor's chin. He hardly felt the soft touch of her
hand upon his sleeve; but as he looked at the white profile of her cheek
against the dark fur of her collar, the knowledge that she was there was a
pleasing one.

"Did you consider the length of our walk when you fell in with my desire?"
he asked presently.

"I like a long walk in pleasant weather; I never tire of walking."

"You have found the essentials of a good pedestrian, --health and
strength."

"Yes; if everybody were like me, all your skill would be thrown away, --I
am never ill."

"Apparently there is no reason why you should be, with common-sense to back
your blessings. If common-sense could be bought at the drug-store, I
should be rid of a great many patients."

"That reminds me of a snatch of conversation I once overheard between my
mother and a doctor's wife. I am reminded of it because the spirit of your
meaning is diametrically opposed to her own. After some talk my mother
asked, 'And how is the doctor?' 'Oh,' replied the visitor, with a long
sigh, 'he's well enough in body, but he's blue, terribly blue; everybody is
so well, you know.'"

"Her sentiment was more human than humane," laughed Kemp. He was glad to
see that she had roused herself from her sad musings; but a certain set
purpose he had formed robbed him now of his former lightness of manner.