“But I don’t think,” Ruth objected, “that it’s any fun to have any doctor come to see one on business.”

“You don’t half mind being ill when Doctor Davison calls,” declared Helen, with unabated enthusiasm.  “And when you call there!  Well,” concluded Helen, with a sigh of anticipation, “you’ll soon know what that means.  He’s got a colored Mammy for cook who makes the most wonderful jumbles and cakes that you ever tasted—­ they about melt in pour mouth!”

Ruth soon had the opportunity of judging Mammy ’Liza’s goodies for herself, for the doctor was at home, and the girls had scarcely become seated in his consultation room when a little colored girl with her wool “done” in innumerable pigtails, like tiny horns, and sticking out all over her brown head in every direction, came in with a tray on which was a plate piled high with fancy cakes and two tall glasses of yellow-gold beaten egg and milk with a dust of nutmeg floating upon the surface of each glassful.

“‘Liza done sez as how yo’-all might be hongry aftah yo’ ride,” said the child, timidly, and then darted out of the room before Ruth and Helen could thank her.

They were munching the goodies when Doctor Davison came smilingly in.

“That’s Mammy ’Liza all over,” he said, shaking his head, but with his dark eyes twinkling.  “I try to keep my young folk in good digestion and she is bound to make a patient of everybody who comes to see me.  Cookies and cakes and sweets are what she believes girls live for; or else she is trying to make customers for my nasty drugs.”

Doctor Davison seemed to have plenty of time to give to the society of young folk who called upon him.  And he showed an interest in Ruth and her affairs which warmed our heroine’s heart.  He wanted to know how she got along at school, and if it was true that she was trying to “make” the High by the opening of the fall term.

“Not that I want any of my young folk to travel the road to knowledge too steadily, or travel it when their bodily condition is not the best.  But you are strong and well, Ruthie, and you can do a deal that other girls of your age would find irksome.  I shall be proud if you prepare to enter the High at your age.”

And this made Ruth feel more and more sure that Doctor Davison had taken interest enough in her career at school to supply the pretty frocks, one of which she was then wearing.  But Aunt Alvirah had warned her that the frocks were to remain a mystery by the special request of the donor, and she could not ask the good old doctor anything about them.  His interest in her progress seemed to infer that he expected Ruth to accomplish a great deal in her school, and the girl from the Red Mill determined not to disappoint him.

When Helen told Doctor Davison where else they intended to call, he nodded understandingly.  “That is,” he added, “Ruth will call on Mercy while you do your shopping, Miss Cameron.  Oh, yes! that is the better plan.  You know very well that Mercy Curtis won’t want to see you, Helen.”