Beatrice turned up her nose in high disdain. "Is that all you can think of?"
"No," replied the Doctor, "I have other remedies, but I want to give you something that would please you. If you feel that you need medicine, my entire stock is at your service. I ask only for the right to supervise your selection, as we don't want you poisoned."
They were sitting on the piazza, and the girl's laugh reached the schoolroom and set the teacher's heart to throbbing. He could steel himself against her smiles and her playful pouting, but when she laughed, he was lost.
"I don't think you'd care much," observed Beatrice, "whether I was poisoned or not, just so you didn't have to give up any of your precious medicines. You're selfish—that's all."
"What more can I do, Miss Manning? I've offered you all my worldly goods. Which bottle do you want?"
"Thank you, I've decided not to rob you. I'll die, if I have to, without medical aid."
"Some people prefer it," murmured Norton.
"How did you happen to come here?" she asked abruptly.
He started slightly, remembering the face that led him, like a star, from one frontier post to another, but he merely said: "An army surgeon has no choice. We go where we are sent by the powers that be."
"I'd hate to be sent anywhere."