“Why, goodness gracious!” cried the draper, “here’s your excuse come direct!”

Under the very nose of the doctor’s great horse stood a little woman-child, staring straight up at the huge red head above her.  Now Ruber was not quite gentle, and it was with some dismay that his master, although the animal showed no offense at the glowering little thing, pulled him back a step or two with the curb, the thought darting through him how easily with one pash of his mighty hoof the horse could annihilate a mirrored universe.

“Where from?” he asked, by what he would himself have called a half-conscious cerebration.

“From somewhere they say you don’t believe in, doctor,” answered the draper.  “It’s little Amanda, the minister’s own darling—­Naughty little dear!” he continued, his round good-humored face wrinkled all over with smiles, as he caught up the truant, “what ever do you mean by splashing through every gutter between home and here, making a little drab of yourself?  Why your frock is as wet as a dish-clout!—­and your shoes!  My gracious!”

The little one answered only by patting his cheeks, which in shape much resembled her own, with her little fat puds, as if she had been beating a drum, while Faber looked down amused and interested.

“Here, doctor!” the draper went on, “you take the little mischief on the saddle before you, and carry her home:  that will be your excuse.”

As he spoke he held up the child to him.  Faber took her, and sitting as far back in the saddle as he could, set her upon the pommel.  She screwed up her eyes, and grinned with delight, spreading her mouth wide, and showing an incredible number of daintiest little teeth.  When Ruber began to move she shrieked in her ecstasy.

Holding his horse to a walk, the doctor crossed the main street and went down a side one toward the river, whence again he entered a narrow lane.  There with the handle of his whip he managed to ring the door-bell of a little old-fashioned house which rose immediately from the lane without even a footpath between.  The door was opened by a lady-like young woman, with smooth soft brown hair, a white forehead, and serious, rather troubled eyes.

“Aunty! aunty!” cried the child, “Ducky ’iding!”

Miss Drake looked a little surprised.  The doctor lifted his hat.  She gravely returned his greeting and stretched up her arms to take the child.  But she drew back, nestling against Faber.

“Amanda! come, dear,” said Miss Drake.  “How kind of Dr. Faber to bring you home!  I’m afraid you’ve been a naughty child again—­running out into the street.”

“Such a g’eat ’ide!” cried Amanda, heedless of reproof.  “A yeal ’ossy—­big! big!”

She spread her arms wide, in indication of the vastness of the upbearing body whereon she sat.  But still she leaned back against the doctor, and he awaited the result in amused silence.  Again her aunt raised her hands to take her.