"Quite so—quite so," chimed in Professor Bodley, trying to look alert by peering over his spectacles.
But the lawyer's interference only earned for him a well-merited rebuke from the head of the commission. Frigidly the examiner said:
"I prefer to draw my own conclusions, Mr. Cooley." Turning again to Paula, he went on: "You left your church a year ago—why?"
"Because Mr. James Marsh is one of its chief pillars," she replied spiritedly. "He prays the loudest and receives the most homage——"
Tod laughed outright.
"That's rather rough on you, Jimmy!"
Mr. Cooley glared at him.
"Silence, sir!" he thundered.
"How dare you!" exclaimed Jimmy, in a fierce undertone.
The lawyer tried to impress on the physicians the importance of the girl's replies.