Annie Kilburn

"Oh, but that's nonsense, Dr. Morrell. That's mere--what do you call

it?--chop logic. But I don't mind it. I grasp at a straw." Mrs. Munger

grasped at a straw of the mind, to show how. "But what _do_ you mean?"

"Well, Mrs. Putney wasn't intoxicated last night, but she's not well this

morning. I'm afraid she couldn't see you."

"Just as you _say_, doctor," cried Mrs. Munger, with mounting

cheerfulness. "I _wish_ I knew just how much you meant, and how

little." She moved closer to the doctor, and bent a look of candid fondness

upon him. "But I know you're trying to mystify me."

She pursued him with questions which he easily parried, smiling and

laughing. At the end she left him to Annie, with adieux that were almost

radiant. "Anyhow, I shall take the benefit of the doubt, and if Mr. Putney

was hoaxing, I shall not give myself away. _Do_ find out what he

means, Miss Kilburn, won't you?" She took hold of Annie's unoffered hand,

and pressed it in a double leathern grasp, and ran out of the room with a

lightness of spirit which her physical bulk imperfectly expressed.