"Don't cry," said the little doctor, "and what's the matter?" all in the same breath, and sitting down beside her.
Cathie looked up with a gasp, and then crushed her handkerchief over her eyes. "Those girls in there are perfectly horrid." "Softly, softly," said Dr. Fisher.
"I can't—help it. No matter what I say, they call me names, and I'm tired of it. O dear, dear!"
"Now see here," said the doctor, getting up on his feet and drawing a long breath. "I'm on my way to my office; suppose you walk along with me a bit and tell me all about it."
Cathie opened her mouth, intending to say, "Oh! I can't"—instead, she found herself silent, and not knowing how, she was presently pacing down the drive by the doctor's side.
"Polly Pepper!" exclaimed Alexia, as a turn in the drive brought the two figures in view of the music-room windows, "did you ever see such a sight in your life? Cathie is walking off with Dr. Fisher! There isn't anything her tongue won't say!"
"Did you tell Polly?" cried Jasper, a half-hour later, putting his head into Dr. Fisher's office. "Oh! beg pardon; I didn't know you were busy, sir."
"Come in," said the doctor, folding up some powders methodically. "No,
I didn't tell Polly."
"Oh!" said Jasper, in a disappointed tone.
"I hadn't a fair chance"—