"I _am_ drunk!" said Geoffrey Strong. And he threw away his cigar
and went to bed.




CHAPTER IV.


MOSTLY PROFESSIONAL.

"I fear Doctor Strong will be very much put out!" said Miss Phoebe
Blyth.

Miss Vesta sighed, and stirred her coffee delicately. "It is
unfortunate!" she said.

"Unfortunate! my dearest Vesta, it is calamitous. Just when he is
comfortably settled in surroundings which he feels to be congenial"--
Miss Phoebe bridled, and glanced round the pleasant dining-room--
"to have these surroundings invaded by what he dislikes most in the
world, a girl, and a sick girl at that; I tell you it would not
surprise me if he should give notice at once."

This was not quite true, for Miss Phoebe would have been greatly
surprised at Doctor Strong's doing anything of the kind; but she
enjoyed saying it, and felt rather better after it.