“Well, as I say, he shouldn’t go out to-night.  Of course he’ll have to.”

“Why will he have to?”

“Because he needs to go to bed and sleep.  I thought perhaps I could get him down to the light and Cap’n Jethro and Lulie could give him a room.”

“There’s a room here.  Two or three of ’em, as far as that goes.  He isn’t very big; he won’t need more than one.”

“But, Martha, I didn’t know how you would feel about taking a strange man into your house, at night, and—­”

Miss Phipps interrupted him.

“Heavens and earth, doctor!” she exclaimed, “what do you think I am?  I’m forty-one years old next August and I weigh—­ Well, I won’t tell you what I weigh, but I blush every time I see the scales.  If you think I’m afraid of a little, meek creature like the one in the sittin’ room you never made a bigger mistake.  And there’s Primmie to help me, in case I need help, which I shan’t.  Besides he doesn’t look as if he would run off with the spoons, now does he?”

Doctor Powers laughed heartily.  “Why, no, he doesn’t,” he admitted.  “I think you’ll find him a quiet little chap.”

“Yes.  And he isn’t able to half look after himself when he’s well, to say nothin’ of when he’s sick.  Anybody—­any woman, anyhow—­ could tell that just by lookin’ at him.  And I’ve brought up a father, so I’ve had experience.  He’ll stay right here in the spare bedroom to-night—­yes, and to-morrow night, too, if you think he’d better.  Now don’t talk any more rubbish, but go in and tell him so.”

Her hand was on the latch of the sitting room door when the doctor asked one more question.

“Say, Martha,” he asked, “this is not my business, but as a friend of yours I—­ Tell me:  Cap’n Jim—­your father, I mean—­didn’t put more money than he could spare in that Development scheme, did he?  I mean you, yourself, aren’t—­er—­likely to be embarrassed in case—­ in case—­”

Miss Phipps interrupted hastily, almost too hastily, so Doctor Powers thought.

“No, no, of course not,” she said.

“Truly, Martha?  I’m only asking as a friend, you know.”

“Why, of course.  There now, doctor, don’t you worry about me.  You know what father and I were to each other; is it likely he would leave me in trouble of any kind?  Now come in and see if Primmie has talked this little sick man of ours into another faintin’ fit.”

Primmie had not, but the “little sick man” came, apparently, very near to fainting when told that he was to occupy the Phipps’ spare bedroom overnight.  Oh, he could not possibly do such a thing, really he couldn’t think of it!  “Dear me, Miss Phipps, I—­”

Miss Phipps paid absolutely no heed to his protests.  Neither did the doctor, who was giving her directions concerning some tablets.  “One to be taken now and another in the morning.  Perhaps he had better stay in bed until I come, Martha.  I’ll be down after breakfast.”