"Many things—his prayers most of all. Lessons of patience and faith, too, that money never could buy."
She remained silent until we reached Mrs. Larkum's. We found the doctor there. He was an old acquaintance. I had met him at a good many evening parties, and at a garden-party or two, where he had several times been my partner in lawn tennis, and an excellent partner I had found him, making up for any lack of skill on my part.
His greeting was exceedingly cordial, and in a blunt way he plunged right into the business in hand. "We are very glad to see you; we have some grave advice to ask."
"I feel quite elated at making one in a medical consultation," I said with a smile.
"I am not sure if you have not done more to restore health in this house than I. The world is too slow recognizing other healers than those embraced by the medical faculties."
"It's my opinion doctors knows less than one thinks of folks' insides. They're as apt to make mistakes about people dying or getting well as any of us. I don't put near as much faith in 'em as the common run of folks," Mrs. Blake said with delicious candor.
"Really, I thought you had a better opinion of us as a profession than that. If you get sick, you will of course dispense with our services."
Mrs. Blake looked perplexed, but after a moment's hesitation she said:
"If I was sick I'd want to see a doctor just as much as anybody. Their medicine is all right; for God made that. It's their judgment that's so onreliable."
"And who is to blame for their judgment?" the doctor asked mischievously.