"Is she capricious?" asked Mr. Libby.

"Grace?" cried Mrs. Maynard, releasing her hand half-way down the steps,
in order to enjoy her astonishment without limitation of any sort. "Grace
capricious!"

"Yes," said Mr. Libby, "that's what I thought. Better take my hand
again," and he secured that of Mrs. Maynard, who continued her descent.
"I suppose I don't understand her exactly. Perhaps she did n't like my
not calling her Doctor. I did n't call her anything. I suppose she
thought I was dodging it. I was. I should have had to call her Miss
Breen, if I called her anything."

"She wouldn't have cared. She is n't a doctor for the name of it."

"I suppose you think it's a pity?" he asked.

"What?"

"Her being a doctor."

"I'll tell her you say so."

"No, don't. But don't you?"

"Well, I would n't want to be one," said Mrs. Mayward candidly.

"I suppose it's all right, if she does it from a sense of duty, as you
say," he suggested.