attention he had vouchsafed them. The truth was this man had had
some unfortunate experiences with district visitors, and had perhaps
an unreasonable prejudice against them as a class. "I can't help it,
ma'am," he said to Mrs. Saunders, when she was taking him to task
one day. "There are exceptions, of course, at least we will hope there
are; but if you had seen some of my specimens, you would be the first
to wish an infusion of common sense could be introduced among them.
As a rule, they offer a tract where they should give a loaf of bread or
a bowl of broth; and wedge their advice and reproofs in with every
helpful movement. It is like so many doses of medicine to the patient;
to be endured because he is at their mercy, and can't help himself. They
mean well, the most of them; but the trouble is, we have a way of
making district visitors out of people who have nothing to do, and who
have never learned that 'all the nations of the earth were made of one
blood.'"

Something in Mrs. Roberts' tones or words seemed to interest him, and
he turned toward her.

"Does this alley belong to you?" he asked, abruptly, his mind still full
of the district visitor.

She regarded him with a puzzled air for a moment, then answered
naively:--

"I don't think it does; if it did I would have some things ever so
different."

Dr. Everett laughed; and Mr. Roberts came forward and introduced
himself.