pensive, a little silent; more habit than anything else now. A sweet
woman; the sweetest--"

The old doctor seemed to forget his companion, and flicked the old
brown horse pensively, as they jogged along, saying no more.

The young doctor waited a little before he put his next question.

"The two ladies live alone always?"

"Yes--no!" said the old doctor, coming out of his reverie. "There's
Diploma Crotty, help, tyrant, governor-in-chief of the kitchen. Now
and then she thinks they'd better have a visitor, and tells them so;
but not very often, it upsets her kitchen. But here we are at the
parsonage, and I'll take you in."

The young doctor made his visit at the parsonage dutifully and
carefully. He meant to make a good impression wherever he went. It
was no such easy matter to take the place of the old doctor, who,
after a lifetime of faithful and loving work, had been ordered off
for a year's rest and travel; but the young doctor had plenty of
courage, and meant to do his best. He answered evasively the inquiry
of the minister's wife as to where he meant to board; and though he
noted down carefully the addresses she gave him of nice motherly
women who would keep his things in order, and have an eye to him in
case he should be ailing, he did not intend to trouble these good
ladies if he could help himself.

"I want to live in that brick house!" he said to himself. "I'll have
a try for it, anyhow. The old ladies can't be insulted by my telling