One beautiful summer night of the year following there were bridal fights gleaming far and wide over the grounds of this stately country place and from all the windows of the house.
The doctor was married.
About a year later there reached Dr. Birney one morning a piece of evidence as to how his reputation was spreading: from another neighborhood a farmer of small means rode to his door and besought him to come and see a member of his family: this request implied that the regular family physician had been passed over, supplanted; and when the poor turn against their physicians and discharge them, it is a bad sign indeed—for the physicians.
The doctor upon setting out sent his thoughts to this professional brother who had been discredited: he would gladly have saved him from the wound.
A few miles up the pike he was surprised to meet a well-known physician from the city: they knew each other socially and checked their horses to exchange greetings.
Dr. Birney lost no time in saying:—
"If you are on the way to my house, I'll turn back."
"I'm going to the Ousleys'. Professor Ousley asked me yesterday to come out and see Mrs. Ousley: he said it was her wish."
The two physicians quickly parted with embarrassment.