"Laugh on, Marion; I don't blame you a bit," he said. "I must cut a pretty figure."
"Just look at your shadow; then you'll see for yourself."
The doctor looked over his shoulder. "The devil!" he exclaimed. "Why, I look just like him, don't I? Depend upon it, that's what it is; I've called upon his Satanic majesty so often, that now he's after me in good earnest. Well, old fellow, I'll deprive you of your horns at any rate;" and the doctor brought the ends of the handkerchief down, and tucked them under his chin.
"Marion, don't let me go into the house with this thing on. I won't take it off now, as long as you've seen it, for it's very comfortable this cold night; but I shouldn't like to shock Miss Stiefbach's dignity by appearing before her in such a rig."
"Miss Stiefbach is away," replied Marion.
"You don't say so! And the cook sick abed too. Well, Miss Christine has her hands full."
"And both the other servants are half sick, and Martin went with Miss Stiefbach."
"And that accounts for your coming out on such a wild-goose chase."
"I was chasing after you, sir," answered Marion, mischievously.
"No insinuations, miss! There's the school-house; get up, Beauty; you're growing lazy."