"Who can it be at this hour?" Alma asked wonderingly.
"Who?" returned Will shortly, and they both listened.
Will seemed scarcely able to breathe, until the maid announced "Dr. Cadman."
"Let him come right in," said Will with evident relief.
Dr. Cadman entered, beaming with the freshness of a morning hour rather than tired with the late evening.
Alma and Will advanced to meet him and he took one hand of each simultaneously.
"Too bad to disturb such a happy picture,—firelight and lovelight. How we bachelors do envy you, lucky dogs!" he said, pressing their hands warmly.
"But, George, we love fine pictures, too, but unfortunately we cannot see ourselves," returned Alma laughingly.
"Sufficient that you see one another," returned the doctor banteringly.
"Now, Alma," he continued, as he seated himself near the fire, "I have just a few minutes to see Will on important business. A patient demands my attention shortly. Are you going to be a good little wife and allow us a few minutes' conversation?"