“Oh,” answered this rude and lawless girl, “I thought it would be very natural for you to be slightly jealous of him, professionally, you know.”

If her object was to embarrass or annoy Dr. Douglass, apparently she did not gain her point.  He laughed good humoredly as he replied: 

“Professionally, he is certainly worthy of envy; I regard him as a very skillful physician, Miss Ried.”

Ere Sadie could reply the horses were stopped before the door, and Dr. Van Anden addressed her: 

“Sadie, do you want to take a ride?”

Now, although Sadie had no special interest in, or friendship for, Dr. Van Anden, she did exceedingly like his horses, and cultivated their acquaintance whenever she had an opportunity.  So within five minutes after this invitation was received she was skimming over the road in a high state of glee.  Sadie marked that night afterward as the last one in which she rode after those black ponies for many a day.  The Doctor seemed more at leisure than usual, and in a much more talkative mood; so it was quite a merry ride, until he broke a moment’s silence by an abrupt question: 

“Sadie, haven’t your mother and you always considered me a sincere friend to your family?”

Sadie’s reply was prompt and to the point.

“Certainly, Dr. Van Anden; I assure you I have as much respect for, and confidence in, you as I should have had for my grandfather, if I had ever known him.”

“That being the case,” continued the Doctor, gravely, “you will give me credit for sincerity and earnestness in what I am about to say.  I want to give you a word of warning concerning Dr. Douglass.  He is not a man whom I can respect; not a man with whom I should like to see my sister on terms of friendship.  I have known him well and long, Sadie; therefore I speak.”

Sadie Ried was never fretful, never petulant, and very rarely angry; but when she was, it was a genuine case of unrestrained rage, and woe to the individual who fell a victim to her blazing eyes and sarcastic tongue.  To-night Dr. Van Anden was that victim.  What right had he to arraign her before him, and say with whom she should, or should not, associate, as if he were indeed her very grandfather!  What business had he to think that she was too friendly with Dr. Douglass!

With the usual honesty belonging to very angry people, it had not once occurred to her that Dr. Van Anden had said and done none of these things.  When she felt that her voice was sufficiently steady, she spoke: 

“I am happy to be able to reassure you, Dr. Van Anden, you are very kind—­extremely so; but as yet I really feel myself in no danger from Dr. Douglass’ fascinations, however remarkable they may be.  My mother and I enjoy excellent health at present, so you need have no anxiety as regards our choice of physicians, although it is but natural that you should feel nervous, perhaps; but you will pardon me for saying that I consider your interference with my affairs unwarrantable and uncalled for.”