“Yes, she wants a quart of ice-cream for dinner.”
“I'd like to know what you've got to do with it,” said Mary tartly.
“She thinks I'm at the office.”
“And the office is next door to Hall's and Hall's have no 'phone,” said Mary smiling. “Of course you must go. Wouldn't Mrs. Abner feel mortified though if she knew you had to leave your home in the midst of dinner to order her ice-cream. But do hurry back, John.”
“Maybe I'd better stay there till the dinner hour is well over,” laughed John. “Every now and then someone wants me to step into Hall's and order up something.”
He went good-naturedly away and his wife looked after him marveling, but withal admiring.
The doctor and his wife had been slumbering peacefully for an hour or two. Then came a loud ring and they were wide awake at once.
“That wasn't the telephone, John, it was the door-bell.”
The doctor got into his dressing-gown and went to the door.