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"Don't you?" Anstice leaned against the trunk of the big cedar under which she sat, and apparently forgot the need for haste "To tell you the truth I soer, you know, I never intended to go in for general practice I had drea I was a some marvellous discovery which should revolutionize medical science"

He broke off abruptly, and when he spoke again his voice held the old bitter note which she had not heard of late

"Well, that's all over I lost a else, and now I suppose I shall go on to the end of the chapter as a general practitioner, attending old wo-cough!"

He laughed; but Iris' face was grave

"But, Dr Anstice"--she spoke rather slowly--"isn't it possible for you to go back to those dreaain--to try once htn't it " her voice faltered a htn't that be the way out--for you?"

There was a sudden silence, broken only by the cooing of a wood-pigeon in a tall tree close at hand Then Anstice said thoughtfully: "I wonder? Supposing that were the way out, after all?"

Ha gazed at her with a long and steady gaze which was yet oddly ih the carnation flush deepened in her cheeks Just as she opened her lips to reply a new voice broke upon their ears

"Good afternoon, Iris Aame of tennis?"

Bruce Cheniston, racquet in hand, had come round the corner of the shrubbery, and as she heard his voice Iris turned to hiood afternoon! You are late, aren't you? We waited for you ever so long, then as you did not cole"

"Oh" He looked rather curiously at the other man "Which was the victor? You?"

"Oh, Dr Anstice always beats hed "You and I are enerally win"

"Well, coain at Anstice "Unless Anstice is giving you your revenge?"

"No, I'htened himself and held out his hand "Good-bye, Miss Wayne Thanks so ame"