"I am sorry," said Mr. Holden, "that I have no little girls, as Herbert
seems fond of them."

Herbert doubted if he could become attached to anyone related to Mr.
Holden.

"I'm a bachelor," said Mr. Holden, "though perhaps I ought to be ashamed
to say so. If I had had the good fortune early in life to encounter a
lady like your good wife here, it might have been different."

"It isn't too late yet, Mr. Holden," said the doctor.

"Well, perhaps not. If Mrs. Kent is ever a widow, I may try my luck."

"What a disagreeable man," thought the doctor's wife, not propitiated by
the compliment. "Herbert," she said, "here are a couple of handkerchiefs
I bought in the village yesterday. I hope you will find them useful."

"Yes; no doubt he will," said Mr. Holden, laughing. "He will think of
you whenever he has a bad cold."

Nobody even smiled at this witty sally, and, Mr. Holden, a little
disappointed, remarked: "Well, time's getting on. I guess we must be
going, as we have a long journey before us."

The whole family accompanied Herbert to the road. After kissing Mary and
Mrs. Kent, and shaking the doctor cordially by the hand, Herbert jumped
into the wagon. Just before the horse started the doctor handed our hero
a sealed envelope, saying, "You can open it after a while."