"Don't mention it, please!" said the young doctor. "It was a pleasure.
Have I the honour of speaking to Miss Blyth? I am Doctor Strong.
Doctor Stedman may have spoken to you of me."

"He has indeed done so!" said Miss Phoebe; and she held out her
silk-gloved hand with dignified cordiality. "I am glad to make your
acquaintance, sir. I shall hope to have the pleasure of welcoming
you at my house at an early date."

"Thank you! I shall be most happy. May I walk along with you, as we
seem to be going the same way? I have been admiring your house so
very much, Miss Blyth. It is the finest specimen of its kind I have
ever seen. How fine that tracery is over the windows; and how seldom
you see a fan so graceful as that! Should you object to my making a
sketch of it some day? I'm very much interested in Colonial houses."

A faint red crept into Miss Phoebe's cheek; it was one of her dreams
to have an oil-painting of her house. The young doctor had found a
joint in her harness.

"I should be indeed pleased--" she began; and, being slightly
fluttered, she dropped her handkerchief again, and again the young
doctor picked it up and handed it to her.

"I am distressed!" said Miss Phoebe. "I am--somewhat hampered by
rheumatism, Doctor Strong. It is not uncommon in persons of middle
age."

"No, indeed! My mother--I mean my aunt--younger sister of my mother's--
used to suffer terribly with rheumatism. I was fortunate enough to