Roger prepared his own supper and induced his mother to eat a little.  When the clock began to strike eight, she took two of the flour-filled capsules, confidently climbed upstairs, and—­such is the power of suggestion—­was shortly asleep.

[Sidenote:  Favourable Opportunity]

Having an unusually favourable opportunity, Roger went over to see Barbara.  He had not seen her since the night before the operation, but Doctor Conrad had told him that in a few days he might be allowed to talk to her or read to her for a little while at a time.

Miriam opened the door for him, and, he thought, looked at him with unusual sharpness.  “I guess you can see her,” she said, shortly.  “I’ll ask her.”

In the pathetically dingy room, out of which Barbara had tried so hard to make a home, he waited until Miriam returned.  “They said to come up,” she said, and disappeared.

Roger climbed the creaking stairs and made his way through the dark, narrow hall to the open door from whence a faint light came.  “Come in,” called Barbara, as he paused.

Ambrose North sat by her bedside holding her hand, but she laughingly offered the other to Roger.  “Bad boy,” she said; “why haven’t you come before?  I’ve lain here in the window and watched you go back and forth for days.”

“I didn’t dare,” returned Roger.  “I was afraid I might do you harm by coming and so I stayed away.”

“Everybody has been so kind,” Barbara went on.  “People I never saw nor heard of have come to inquire and to give me things.  You’re absolutely the last one to come.”

[Sidenote:  Last but Not Least]

“Last—­and least?”

“Not quite,” she said, with a smile.  “But I haven’t been lonely.  Father has been right beside me all the time except when I’ve been asleep, haven’t you, Daddy?”

“I’ve wanted to be,” smiled the old man, “but sometimes they made me go away.”

“Tell me about the Judge’s liver,” suggested Barbara, “and Fido.  I’ve been thinking a good deal about Fido.  Did his legal document hurt him?”

[Sidenote:  Fido]

“Not in the least.  On the contrary, he thrived on it.  He liked it so well that he’s eaten others as opportunity offered.  The Judge is used to it now, and doesn’t mind.  I’ve been thinking that it might save time and trouble if, when I copied papers, I took an extra carbon copy for Fido.  That pup literally eats everything.  He’s cut some of his teeth on a pair of rubbers that a client left in the office, and this noon he ate nearly half a box of matches.”

“I suppose,” remarked Barbara, “that he was hungry and wanted a light lunch.”

“That’ll be about all from you just now,” laughed Roger.  “You’re going to get well all right—­I can see that.”

“Of course I’m going to get well.  Who dared to say I wasn’t?”

“Nobody that I know of.  Do you want me to bring Fido to see you?”