“Miriam,” said he, “for how long have you engaged this woman?”

“Nothing at all has been said about time,” she answered.

“Very well, then,” said he, “she can come to the table to-night and to-morrow morning, for, I suppose, if I object, she will go off and leave you again without anybody, but to-morrow she must be told that she cannot eat with us; and if she does not like that, she must leave, and I will go to the city and get you a proper servant.  The hay is in now, and there is no more important work to which I could give a day.  Now do not be angry, little one, because I object to your domestic arrangements.  We all have to make mistakes, you know, when we begin.”

“Thank you, Ralph,” said Miriam.  “I really am ever so much obliged to you,” and going up to her brother, she lifted her face to his.  Ralph stooped to kiss her, but suddenly stopped.

“Who, in the name of common sense, is that!” he exclaimed.  The sound of wheels was plainly heard upon the driveway, and turning, they saw a buggy stop at the door.

“It is Dr. Tolbridge!” cried Miriam.

Through the open front door Ralph saw that it was the doctor, preparing to alight.

“Miriam,” said he, quickly, “we must ask the doctor to stay to supper, and if he does, that cook must not come to the table.  It will not do at all, as you can see for yourself.  We cannot ask our friends and neighbors to sit down with servants.”

“I will see,” said Miriam.  “I think that can be made all right,” and they both went to the door to meet their visitor.

The doctor shook hands with them most cordially.

“Glad to see you both so ruddy; Cobhurst air must agree with you.  And now, before we say anything else, let me ask you a question:  Have you had your supper?”

“No,” answered Ralph, “and I hope you have not.”

“Your hopes are realized.  I have not, and if you do not mind letting me sup with you, I will do it.”

The brother and sister, who both liked the hearty doctor, assured him that they would be delighted to have him stay.

“The reason of my extending an invitation to myself is this:  I have been making a visit in the country, where I was detained much longer than I expected, and as I drove homeward, I said to myself, ’Good sir, you are hungry, and where are you going to get your evening meal?  You cannot reach home until long after the dinner hour, and moreover you have a patient beyond Cobhurst, whom you ought to see this evening.  It would be a great pity to drive all the way to Thorbury, and then back again, to-night.  Now there are those young Cobhurst people, who, you know, have supper at the end of the day, instead of dinner, like the regular farmers that they are, and as you want to see them, anyway, and find out how they are getting on, it will be well to stop there, and ten to one, you will find that they have not yet sat down to the table.’”