He laughed, as if actually enjoying her confusion. Missy observed
that his eyes were red-rimmed, and his face a pasty white. She
wondered whether he was sick; but he jauntily waved his stick at her
and went on his way.

Missy, a trifle subdued, continued hers.

But oh, it is a wonderful world! You never know what any moment may
bring you. Adventures fairy-sent surprises, await you at the most
unexpected turns, spring at you from around the first corner.

It was around the very first corner, in truth, that Missy met young
Doc Alison, buzzing leisurely along in his Ford.

"Hello, Missy," he greeted. "Like a lift?"

Missy would. Young Doc jumped out, and, in a deferential manner she
admired very much, assisted her into the little car as though she
were a grown-up and lovely young lady. Young Doc was a nice man. She
knew him well. He had felt her pulse, looked at her tongue, sent her
Valentines, taken her riding, and shown her many other little
courtesies for as far back as she could remember. Then, too, she
greatly admired his looks. He was tall and lean and wiry. His face
was given to quick flashes of smiling; and his eyes could be dreamy
or luminous. He resembled, Missy now decided--and marvelled she
hadn't noticed it before--that other young man, Lochinvar, "so
faithful in love and so dauntless in war."

When young Doc politely enquired whether she could steal enough time