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"What did Mrs Carstairs say to that?"

"She agreed, of course And if I were you"--Dr Willows felt vaguely uncoo round pretty soon" He looked at his watch ostentatiously "By Jove, it's after ten--I o round to Cherry Orchard this o round al, Willows II'ht!" Dr Willows, relieved by the change in Anstice's manner, waved his hand airily and returned to his car; and as soon as he was out of sight Anstice entered his own motor and turned in the direction of Cherry Orchard

After all, he said to hilided swiftly over the hard white road, there was no reason why Mrs Carstairs should find anything suspicious in his inability to visit Cherry Orchard on the previous evening Doctors were only human after all--prone to the saencies of one of theprofessions in the world would see endurance in its members, there are moments in which even the physician must pause in his ministrations to the world, in order, as it were, to tune up his own bodily frame to meet the demands upon it

Of course it was possible that Cheniston had divulged to his sister the true reason of Anstice's non-arrival; but Anstice did not think it likely; for although there was, and always onism between the two men, Cheniston was an honourable man; and the secret upon which he had stumbled was one which a man of honour would instinctively keep to himself

That his secret was safe with Iris, Anstice knew beyond any question; and as his car swept up the drive to the jasmine-covered door of Cherry Orchard he told himself that it was only his conscience whichmust have looked odd, unusual, even--he could not help the word--suspicious

The door was opened to hi the sincerity of his welco out for you Miss Cherry's awakened, they say, and is in a sad state"

His unusual loquacity was a proof of his mental disturbance, and Anstice spoke sharply

"Where is she? Shall I go upstairs?"

"If you please, sir Here is Tochatti come for you, sir" And he stood aside to allow the woman to approach