"Not a bad characteristic," laughed the doctor.
"I should say not."
"Now when I come up home for dinner, you and I will find Polly, and tell her the good news. If she's with a lot of those silly girls, I'll—I'll tear her off this time." Dr. Fisher glared so fiercely as he declared this determination that Jasper laughed outright.
"I thought no one was to disturb Polly's good intentions in that line," he cried.
"Well, there's an end to all things, and patience ceases to be a virtue sometimes."
"So I've thought a good many times, but I've borne it like a man."
Jasper drew himself up, and laughed again at the doctor's face.
"Oh! you go along," cried Dr. Fisher, his eyes twinkling. "I'll meet you just before dinner."
"All right," as Jasper rushed off.
Dr. Fisher jumped to his feet, pushing aside the litter of powder papers, and bottles, and ran his fingers through the shock of gray hair standing straight on his head.
"Yes, yes," he muttered, walking to the window, "it will be a good thing for Polly, now I tell you, Adoniram." He always preferred to address himself by his first name; then he was sure of a listener. "A vastly good thing. It's quite time that some of the intimacies with these silly creatures are broken up a bit, while the child gains immensely in other ways." He rubbed his palms gleefully. "Oh! good-morning, good-morning!"