"But you do not want to be a man?"
"No, not now. I am too old and dependent. But I'll let you into a secret. I am secretly envious of them. I'd like to be able to put them down under my heel and make them--squeal."
Mrs. Nailor turned and spoke to the old lady. She was evidently about to take her leave. Keith moved over, and for the first time addressed Miss Huntington.
"I want you to show me about these grounds," he said, speaking so that both ladies could hear him. He rose, and both walked out of the parlor. When Mrs. Nailor came out, Keith and his guide were nowhere to be found, so she had to wait; but a half-hour afterwards he and Miss Huntington came back from the stables.
As they drove out of the grounds they passed a good-looking young fellow just going in. Keith recognized Dr. Locaman.
"That is the young man who is so attentive to your young friend," said Mrs. Nailor; "Dr. Locaman. He saved her life and now is going to marry her."
It gave Keith a pang.
"I know him. He did not save her life. If anybody did that, it was an old country doctor, Dr. Balsam."
"That old man! I thought he was dead years ago."
"Well, he is not. He is very much alive."