"Dr. King?" she said smiling.
"Doesn't resemble her in the least," the doctor thought, getting on
his feet, and putting out a friendly, hand. "I am just in from Old
Chester," he said, "and I thought I'd come and say how-do-you-do to
your father, and tell you the latest news of Mrs. Richie--"
The front door banged, and Lloyd Pryor pushed aside the curtain.--
William had wondered what Martha would say to a curtain instead of a
door! His blank panic as he heard the doctor's last word, turned his
face white. ("Bad heart?" William asked himself.)
"_Dr. King!_ Alice, you needn't wait."
Alice, nodding pleasantly, left them, and her father, setting his
teeth, looked out through his curling eyelashes with deadly
intentness.
"Thought I'd come in and say how-do-you-do?" William King said, hungry
and friendly, but a little bewildered.
"Oh," said Mr. Pryor.
William put out his hand; there was a second's hesitation, then Lloyd
Pryor took it--and dropped it quickly.
"All well?" the doctor asked awkwardly.
"Yes; yes. All well. Very well, thank you. Yes."
"I was just passing. I thought perhaps your sister would be pleased if
I inquired; she didn't know I was coming, but--"
"You are very kind, I'm sure," the other broke in, his face relaxing.
"I am sorry that just at this moment I can't ask you to stay, but--"
"Certainly not," William King said shortly; "I was just passing.
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