CHAPTER XII
A PROFESSIONAL VISIT OUT OF TOWN

Beverley, L. I.,
Monday, August 15.

Dear Charley:

My leg is worse. Won’t you run down here and have a look at it? I also want your advice about May Derwent.

Aff. yours,
Fred.

When I received this note early on Tuesday morning, I at once made arrangements for a short absence. Now that duty, and not inclination alone, called me elsewhere, I had no scruples about leaving New York; and when, a few hours later, after visiting my most urgent cases, I found myself on a train bound for Beverley, I blessed Fred’s leg, which had procured me this unexpected little holiday. What a relief it was to leave the dust and the noise of the city behind, and to feast my eyes once more on the sight of fields and trees.