be helped.

"This--this is what has troubled us, Doctor Strong. We fear, my
sister and I, that the presence of a young--person of the other sex--
will be disturbing to you."

Miss Vesta looked up quickly, but said nothing. Geoffrey looked
bewildered for a moment, then laughed aloud, colouring like a
schoolboy. "Why, Miss Blyth, what must you think of me?" he said.
"I am not particularly given to--to the society of young ladies, but
I am not such a misogynist as all that."

Miss Phoebe did not know what a misogynist was, and did not like to
ask; there were so many dangerous and levelling doctrines about, as
her father always said. Whatever it was, she was heartily glad that
Doctor Strong did not believe in it.

"Vesta is a good child," said Miss Vesta. "She makes no noise or
trouble in the house, even when she is well. We shall of course see
that your convenience is not interfered with in any way, Doctor
Strong."

"If you talk like that, I shall pack my trunk and go to-morrow,"
said Geoffrey, decidedly; "and I don't want to go a bit. It's I who
am likely to be in the way, so far as I can see; but you won't send
me off just yet, will you?"

When Geoffrey Strong smiled, people were apt to do what he wished,
unless they were ill-conditioned people indeed, and Miss Phoebe and
Miss Vesta were far from ill-conditioned.