“A most excellent conclusion,” said Ralph, “and I will call Mike, and have him take your horse.”

Having left the doctor in the charge of her brother, Miriam hurried downstairs to apprise Dora of the state of affairs.

“I am sorry,” she said, “but we will have to give up the trick we were going to play on Ralph, for Dr. Tolbridge has come, and will stay to supper, and so, while you go upstairs and put on your own dress, I will finish getting these things ready.  I will see Ralph before we sit down, and tell him all about it.”

Dora made no movement toward the stairs.

“I knew it was the doctor,” she said, “for I went out and looked around the corner of the house, and saw his horse.  But I do not see why we should give up our trick.  Let us play it on the doctor as well as on your brother.”

Miriam stood silent a few moments.

“I do not know how that would do,” she said.  “That is a very different thing.  And besides, I do not believe Ralph would let you come to the table.  You ought to have seen how angry he was when I told him the new cook must eat with us.”

“Oh, that was splendid!” cried Dora.  “I will not come to the table.  That will make it all the funnier when we tell him.  I can eat my supper anywhere, and I will go upstairs and wait on you, which will be better sport than sitting down at the table with you.”

“But I do not like that,” said Miriam.  “I will not have you go without your supper until we have finished.”

“My dear Miriam!” exclaimed Dora, “what is a supper in comparison with such a jolly bit of fun as this?  Let me go on as the new cook.  And now we must hurry and get these things on the table.  It will make things a great deal easier for me, if they can eat before it is time to light the lamps.”

When Miriam went to call the gentlemen to supper, the doctor said to her:—­

“Your brother has told me that you have a new servant, and that she is so preposterous as to wish to take her meals with you, but that he does not intend to allow it.  Now, I say to you, as I said to him, that if she expected to sit at the table before I came, she must do it now.  I am used to that sort of thing, and do not mind it a bit.  In the families of the farmers about here, with whom I often take a meal, it is the custom for the daughter of the family to cook, to wait on the table, and then sit down with whomever may be there, kings or cobblers.  I beg that you will not let my coming make trouble in your household.”

Miriam looked at her brother.

“All right,” said Ralph, with a smile, “if the doctor does not mind, I shall not.  And now, do let us have something to eat.”

CHAPTER XIII

DORA’S NEW MIND