was queer how possessed Benjamin Wright was that Sam's love-making was
dangerous. Then he sighed, and his face fell into troubled lines. For
all his brave words, he wished he knew where the boy was; and though
he was already late for dinner, he drew up at William King's door to
ask the doctor if he had any new ideas on the subject.

But Willy was not at home. Martha was sitting under the grape-vine
trellis at the back door, topping and tailing gooseberries. From the
kitchen behind her came the pleasant smell of preserving. She had a
big yellow earthenware bowl in her lap, and excused herself for not
rising when Dr. Lavendar came round the corner of the house to find
her.

"_I_ am a housekeeper, Dr. Lavendar. William thinks it's pretty
not to understand housekeeping; but I expect if he didn't have
preserves for his supper, he wouldn't think it was so pretty. No; he
isn't at home, sir. He's gone out--with the thermometer at ninety--to
see about that party he is getting up for Mrs., Richie. So long as he
has time to spare from his patients, I should think he would like to
take up my spare-room carpet for me. But, oh dear, no. He has to see
about parties!"

"William is always doing friendly things," said Dr. Lavendar, sitting
down on the door-step and helping himself to a gooseberry from
Martha's bowl. "You are going to make some fool for the supper, of
course?" He took off his hat, and wiped his forehead with his big red
handkerchief.

"Oh, of course. I'm very tired, and I have my housekeeping to attend
to; but I can make gooseberry fool. That's what I'm for."