Dr. Castleton's Patient [pp. 441-447]

DR. CASTLETON'S PATIENT.
"And my young doctor, who knows as much ii
as either of them," said the wife, looking up t~
,vith fond, proud eyes, "must stand by with idle p
hands. It does seem hard." w
"We must have patience," said the Doctor s
smiling, though rather sadly. it
"If we could only get them," replied Laura, p
playfully misinterpreting his words. w
"I have arrived at the conclusion that we S
shall have to try somewhere else than here,
thlough," pursued the young man thoughtfully. s
"Four months and not a single call will not do, a
Laura; we shall have to be looking elsewhere. p
There are places enough in the world where I
am needed, if we only knew where to find n
them." F
A light tap at the door, and the owner of the g
premises, old Mrs. Ellis, came in. She had it
grown fond of running up, now and then, to sit
for an hour with "little Mrs. Doctor," as she d
playfully designated Laura. Quite an intimacy ii
had sprung up between the two ladies-the one tl
so timid and girlish, so anxious to appear like a ii
sober, staid wife of years standing, and yet so xx
brimful of the "doctor" that her remarks were
sure either to begin or end with him; cautiously d
hiding all traces of their disappointment and n
straitened means, that her friend might not p
suspect the mortifying truth that her Doctor,
instead of being the successful physician they a
had reason to expect, was really not appre- g
ciated; the other so motherly and kind, her i
dearest treasures beyond all reach of earthly k
misunderstanding, and she herself living for
others now that the life for herself was ended. "
She would have been far from keen sighted if c
she had not guessed how matters stood with s
her young tenants, since not a single patient s
had she ever seen pass in or out. "Use of
front hall and stairs free of charge" had seemed t
to the young couple a marvelously generous
item when they first came to their present quarters, but the old lady had shrewdly suspected
that her carpets and oil cloth would not suffer t;
greatly from the feet of professional callers a
luring the first year. She liked her sunny- p
faced little neighbor, however, and was oblig- d
ingly oblivious to many things that were quite e
visible through her golden spectacles. r
' I think you must have a natural talent for
housekeeping, Mrs. Castleton," she said pleas- t
antly, settling herself comfortably in the chair r
Frank drew forward for her, "your room always k
looks so bright and cheerful." e
"Do you think so?" said Laura, blushing, s
but delighted.
"And that reminds me," continued the old 1lady, "of something that I intended mention-;1
ng when I was up the other day, but we were
alking so busily that I quite forgot it. The
aper on these walls is stained a little, and
lhen you have every thing in the room looking
o nicely, it seems a pity not to have the room
tself in the best repair; so if you like, and can
ut up with the inconvenience of having the
'orkmen here, I will have it repapered this
ummer."
Laura's eyes, after the manner of her sex,
parkled at the suggestion of any thing new
nd pretty; but a second thought checked her
leasure.
"You are very kind; I should like it very
iuch, only" -she hestitated and looked at
frank. It would not be right to let their friend
o to any such expense in ignorance of their
ntended removal, her glance said.
"It is scarcely probable we shall remain here
uring the Summer; we thank you for your
ntended kindness just the same, however," said
ihe Doctor, taking up the sentence, and speakng carelessly, as if neither going nor staying
rere matter to occasion much concern.
"Ah, indeed?" said the old lady, more sadened than surprised, "I was really wishing you
night settle down here. You can hardly find a
rettier place."
"Yes, it is a pleasant place, very," the Doctor
dmitted with a smile; "but then there are a
reat many other things that have to be taken
nto consideration by us business men, you
now, Mrs. Ellis."
A faint smile flitted over the old lady's lips.
'Us men out of business," would have been a
learer way of stating the case, she thought, but
he respected his inclination to keep his own
ecrets, and hinted nothing of her knowledge.
"Are you going out, Frank?" Laura asked as
he gentleman took up his hat.
"Only down town."
"You will be back in time for tea?"
"Certainly, unless I am unexpectedly deained," flashing a laughing glance toward her
s he spoke. They both knew there was little
rospect of any business to detain him, as, inteed, there was none to call him firom home,
xcept that he might take a quiet walk, and
neditate upon some plan for the future.
He nodded a gay good-by, and passed down
he stairs, and through the hall, whistling a
nerry tune, that Laura might not be saddened
by thinking him greatly troubled and disheartneed; and the two ladies were left to themselves.
"You have only lately decided to go away,
have you, dear?" asked Mrs. Ellis, taking up
her stitching again.
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443