"Tenth day," Guy responded, thus showing that he, too, was keeping

Maddy's age, even to a day.

"Yes, the tenth day," resumed the doctor. "There's 'most eleven years'

difference between us, but if she feels at all as I do, she will not

care, Guy;" and the doctor began to talk earnestly: "I'll be candid

with you, and say that you have sometimes made my heart ache a

little."

"Me!" and Guy's face was crimson, while the doctor continued: "Yes, and I beg your pardon for it; but let me ask you one question,

and upon its answer will depend my future course with regard to Maddy:

You are true to Lucy?"

Guy felt the blood trickling at the roots of his hair, but he answered

truthfully as he believed: "Yes, true as steel;" while the generous thought came over him that he

would further the doctor's plans all he possibly could.

"Then I am satisfied," the doctor rejoined; "and as you have rather

assumed the position of her guardian or brother, I ask your permission

to offer her the love which whether she accepts it or not, is hers."

Guy had never felt a sharper pang than that which now thrilled through

every nerve, but he would not prove false to the friend confiding in

him, and he answered calmly: "You have my consent; but, Doc, better put it off till you see her at

Aikenside. There's no chance at the cottage, with those three old

people. I wonder she don't go wild. I'm sure I should."

Guy was growing rather savage about something, but the doctor did not

mind; and grasping his arm as he arose, he said: "And you'll manage it for me, Guy? You know how. I don't. You'll

contrive for me to see her alone, and maybe say a word beforehand in

my favor."

"Yes, yes, I'll manage it. I'll fix it right. Don't forget, day after

to-morrow night. The Cutlers' will be there, and, by the way, Marcia

has got to be a splendid girl. She fancied you once, you know. Old

Cutler is worth half a million." And Guy tore himself away from the

doctor, who, now that the ice was broken, would like to have talked of

Maddy forever.

But Guy was not thus inclined, and in a mood not extremely amiable, he

threw himself into his sleigh and went dashing down toward Honedale.

For some unaccountable reason he was not now one bit interested in the

party, and, were it not that a few of the invitations were issued, he

would have been tempted to give it up. Guy did not know what ailed

him. He only felt as if somebody had been meddling with his plans, and

had he been in the habit of swearing, he would probably have sworn;

but as he was not, he contented himself with driving like a second

Jehu he reached Honedale, where a pair of soft, brown eyes smiled up

into his face, and a little, fat, warm hand was clasped in his, as

Maddy came even to the gate to meet him.




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