before this, if she had told him and
been done with it. I've a great mind
to ask Dr. Lavendar."

He did ask him; at first with proper
precautions not to betray a patient's
confidence, but, at a word from Dr.
Lavendar, tumbling into truthfulness.

"You are talking about young Philippa
Roberts?" Dr. Lavendar announced,
calmly, when William was half-way
through his story of concealed identities.

"How did you guess it?" the doctor
said, astonished; "oh, well, yes, I am.
I guess there's no harm telling you--"
"Not the slightest," said Dr. Lavendar,
"especially as I knew it already
from the young man--I mean, I knew
she wouldn't have him. But I didn't
know why until your story dovetailed
with his. William, the thing has
festered in her! The lancet ought to have
been used the next day. I believe she'd
have been married by this time if she'd
spoken out, then and there."

William King was much chagrined.
"I thought, being a girl, you know, her