“Dr. Everett doesn’t charge us anything—­so you’re wrong for once,” interrupted Virginia, glad of the opportunity to give him a dig.

“I ain’t talkin’ about any particular doctor,” went on the shipping clerk, unabashed.  “I’m agin all doctors.  They’re a bunch of crooks, I tell you.  It’s you women with your imaginary ailments who keep ’em going.  If doctors had to depend on men for a living, they’d have to take to shovelling snow.”

“Hardly in summer time,” said Virginia dryly.

“No,” he retorted as quickly; “then they could run ice cream parlors.”

Fanny, who had resumed darning her socks, smiled.  She enjoyed these little encounters between her sister and her fiance.  Virginia was no mean antagonist when it came to an argument, but she was no match for Jimmie.  However, thinking the sparring had gone far enough, she adroitly changed the conversation.

“Well, how’s business to-day, Jim?”

“Oh, on the blink—­as usual.  Nothing doing; I’m sick of the whole outfit.  But say, girls—!”

“What?” exclaimed Fanny.

“You won’t tell anyone if I tell you something?”

Virginia looked up from her book.  Even she was interested.

“No,” said Fanny, “we won’t tell.  What is it?”

Jimmie sat up and cleared his throat as if preparing to make some highly important communication.  Then, leaning forward, he said in an impressive tone: 

“I’ve got the greatest idea—­”

“Really?” exclaimed Virginia sceptically.

Too full of egotism and self-importance to note her sarcasm, the young man beamed with self-satisfaction as he proceeded enthusiastically: 

“Greatest thing you ever heard of!  There’s millions in it.  My name will ring round the world.  If only I can get the backing, my fortune is made—­”

Fanny’s face flushed with pleasure as she bent eagerly forward to hear every detail of this scheme which would some day make her a rich woman.  Even if the dream never came true, the mere hope that it might was enough to give her a thrill.  Virginia remained cold.  She was more cynical, having already heard many speeches of the same kind and from the same quarter—­all dealing with wonderful projects that invariably met with a sudden death.  This announcement of a new idea, therefore, did not even make her look up.

Expanding his chest, Jimmie proceeded with dignity.

“This idea of mine will revolutionize railroad travel in this country—­do you know that?  It will bring Chicago far nearer New York than it is now.  How?  By cutting down the running time of the fastest trains.  When the railroad men hear of it—­and see how simple it is—­they’ll hail me as a public benefactor—­”

“But what is it?” interrupted Fanny eagerly.  “You haven’t told us what it is.”

Beaming with self-importance, he tilted forward on his chair.  Fanny, tense with the excitement of suspense, strained her ears.  Even Virginia deigned to stop reading and pay attention.  Clearing his throat he began: