She remained in the doorway looking up at the doctor.
"I SUPPOSE YOU'VE COME ABOUT THE GAS BILL."
"I suppose you've come about the gas bill," she said at length, with an old-womanish air, "but it's no use. Father is out, and I have only sixpence. It's my own, but you can have it if you promise to take care of it."
"I'm a doctor, and a friend of your father's," replied Norman, with a reassuring smile.
The child at once moved aside.
A Real Live Visitor
"Please come in. I've just been playing with my dolls for visitors, but it will be much nicer to have a real live one."
The room the doctor entered was small, but cheerful; the floor uncarpeted, but clean, and the window framed a patch of sky over the chimney-pots below. A table stood near the window, by it two chairs on which lay two dolls.