“I should think the work could be done just as well out of the house as in it,” said the doctor’s wife, who would be willing to have again the use of the little room that she had cheerfully given up to the copyist of her husband’s book, which she, quite as earnestly as Miss Panney, desired to be given to the world.

“The first thing to do,” said she, “is to make them acquainted.  At first the Haverleys would not be likely to favor the plan.  They no doubt consider themselves sufficient company for each other, and although a slight addition to their income would probably be of advantage, I think they are too young and unpractical to care much about that.”

“How would it do to have the Dranes and the Haverleys here, and give them a first-class La Fleur dinner?” asked the doctor.

“I do not like that,” said his wife.  “The intention would be too obvious.  The thing should be done more naturally.”

“Well,” said the doctor, “I wish we had Miss Panney here.  She has a great capacity for rearranging and simplifying the circumstances of a complicated case.”

Mrs. Tolbridge made no answer, but very intently examined her sewing.

“But if we can think of no deeply ingenious plan,” continued the doctor, “we will go about it in a straightforward way.  I will see Ralph Haverley, and if I can win him over to the idea I will let him talk to his sister.  He can do it better than we can.  If they utterly reject the whole scheme, we will wait a week or so, and propose it again, just as if we had never done it before.  I have found this plan work very well with persons who, on account of youth, or some other reason, are given to resentment of suggestions and to quick decisions.  When a rejected proposition is laid before them a second time, the disposition to resent has lost its force, and they are as likely to accept it as not.”

“You are right,” said Mrs. Tolbridge, “for I have tried that plan with you.”

The doctor looked at her and laughed.

“It is astonishing,” he exclaimed, “what coincidences we meet with in this world,” and with that he left the room.

As soon as her husband had gone, Mrs. Tolbridge leaned back in her chair and laughed quietly.

“To think of asking Miss Panney to aid in a plan like that!” she said to herself.  “Why, when the old lady hears of it she will blaze like fury.  To send that pretty Cicely to live in the house for which she herself has selected a mistress, will seem to her like high treason.  But the arrangement suits me perfectly, and I can only hope that Miss Panney may not hear of it until everything is settled.”