is in a pretty bad way morally, Doc."

"Don't you mind Mr. Putney, doctor!" screamed Mrs. Gerrish.

Putney said, with respectful recognition of the poor woman's attempt to be
arch, "I'll try to keep within the bounds of truth in stating the case,
Mrs. Gerrish."

He went on to state it, with so much gravity and scrupulosity, and with
so many appeals to Mrs. Munger to correct him if he were wrong, that the
doctor was shaking with laughter when Putney came to an end with unbroken
seriousness. At each repetition of the facts, Annie's relation to them grew
more intolerable; and she suspected Putney of an intention to punish her.
"Well, what do you say?" he demanded of the doctor.

"Ha, ha, ha! ah, ha, ha." laughed the doctor, shutting his eyes and
throwing back his head.

"Seems to consider it a _laughing_ matter," said Putney to Mrs.
Munger.

"Yes; and that is all your fault," said Mrs. Munger, trying, with the
ineffectiveness of a large woman, to pout.

"No, no, I'm not laughing." began the doctor.

"Smiling, perhaps," suggested Putney.

The doctor went off again. Then, "I beg--I _beg_ your pardon, Mrs.
Munger," he resumed. "But it isn't a professional question, you know; and