“I should hope not!” said George.  And then he told her bluntly what caused her trouble.  Kate had been white to begin with, now she slowly turned greenish as she gazed at him with incredulous eyes.  Then she sprang to her feet.

“But I can’t be ill!” she cried.  “I can’t!  There is my school!  I’ve got to teach!  Oh, what shall I do?”

George had a very clear conception of what she could do, but he did not intend to suggest it to her.  She could think of it, and propose it herself.  She could not think of anything at that minute, because she fainted, and fell half on the bed, half in his arms as he sprang to her.  He laid her down, and stood a second smiling triumphantly at her unheeding face.

“Easy snap for you this winter, Georgie, my boy!” he muttered.  “I don’t see people falling over each other to get to you for professional services, and it’s hard work anyway.  Zonoletics are away above the head of these country ignoramuses; blue mass and quinine are about their limit.”

He took his time to bathe Kate’s face.  Presently she sat up, then fell on the pillow again.

“Better not try that!” warned George.  “You’ll hurt yourself, and you can’t make it.  You’re out of the game; you might as well get used to it.”

“I won’t be out of the game!” cried Kate.  “I can’t be!  What will become of my school?  Oh, George, could you possibly teach for me, only for a few days, until I get my stomach settled?”

“Why, I’d like to help you,” he said, “but you see how it is with me.  I’ve got my fall work finished up, and I’m getting ready to open my office next week.  I’m going to rent that nice front room over the post office.”

“But, George, you must,” said Kate.  “You’ve taught several terms.  You’ve a license.  You can take it until this passes.  If you have waited from June to October to open your office, you can wait a few more days.  Suppose you open the office and patients don’t come, or we haven’t the school; what would we live on?  What would I buy things with, and pay doctor bills?”

“Why didn’t you think of that before you got married?  What was your rush, anyway?  I can’t figure it to save my soul,” he said.

“George, the school can’t go,” she cried.  “If what you say is true, and I suspect it is, I must have money to see me through.”

“Then set your wits to work and fix things up with your father,” he said casually.

Kate arose tall and straight, standing unwaveringly as she looked at him in blazing contempt.

“So?” she said.  “This is the kind of man you are?  I’m not so helpless as you think me.  I have a refuge.  I know where to find it.  You’ll teach my school until I’m able to take it myself, if the Trustee and patrons will allow you, or I’ll sever my relations with you as quickly as I formed them.  You have no practice; I have grave doubts if you can get any; this is our only chance for the money we must have this winter.  Go ask the Trustee to come here until I can make arrangements with him.”