"I was going to send Mary, but this is a chance to
get better acquainted with her--if you're not too tired."
"Of course I'm not too tired," the doctor said eagerly, and went back
to the fireside where Mrs. Richie had dropped on her knees before
David. "I'm going to walk home with you," he announced. She looked up
with a quick protest, but he only laughed. "If we let you go alone,
your brother will think we have no manners in Old Chester. Besides I
need the walk." And when she had fastened her cloak, and kissed David
good night, and thrown Dr. Lavendar an appealing look, William gave
her his hand down the two steps from the front door, and then made her
take his arm. Dr. Lavendar had provided a lantern, and as its shifting
beam ran back and forth across the path the doctor bade her be careful
where she stepped. "These flag-stones are abominably rough," he said;
"I never noticed it before. And one can't see in the dark."
But what with the lantern and the stars, there was light enough for
William King to see the stray curl that blew across her forehead--
brown, was it? And yet, William remembered that in daylight her hair
was too bright to be called brown. He was solicitous lest he was
making her walk too fast. "I don't want your brother to think we don't
take care of you in Old Chester," he said; and in the starlight he
could see that her face flushed a little.
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