They moved a little toward the door, holding each other's hands. "Ellen,
I've had a _lovely_ time!"
"And so have I, Annie. I thought you'd like to meet Dr. Morrell."
"Oh yes, indeed!"
"And I can't tell you what a night this has been for Ralph. He likes you so
much, and it isn't often that he has a chance to talk to two such people as
you and Dr. Morrell."
"How brilliant he is!" Annie sighed.
"Yes, he's a very able man. It's very fortunate for Hatboro' to have such
a doctor. He and Ralph are great cronies. I never feel uneasy now when
Ralph's out late--I know he's been up at the doctor's office, talking. I--"
Annie broke in with a laugh. "I've no doubt Dr. Morrell is all you say,
Ellen, but I meant Ralph when I spoke of brilliancy. He has a great future,
I'm sure."
Mrs. Putney was silent for a moment. "I'm satisfied with the present, so
long as Ralph--" The tears suddenly gushed out of her eyes, and ran down
over the fine wrinkles of her plump little cheeks.
"Not quite so much loud talking, please," piped a thin, high voice from a
room across the stairs landing.
"Why, dear little soul!" cried Annie. "I forgot he'd gone to bed."
"Would you like to see him?" asked his mother.
She led the way into the room where the boy lay in a low bed near a larger
one. His crutches lay beside it. "Win sleeps in our room yet. He can take
care of himself quite well. But when he wakes in the night he likes to
reach out and touch his father's hand."
The child looked mortified.
"I wish I could reach out and touch _my_ father's hand when I wake in
the night," said Annie.
The cloud left the boy's face. "I can't remember whether I said my prayers,
mother, I've been thinking so."
"Well, say them over again, to me."
The men's voices sounded in the hall below, and the ladies found them
there. Dr. Morrell had his hat in his hand.
"Look here, Annie," said Putney, "_I_ expected to walk home with you,
but Doc Morrell says he's going to cut me out. It looks like a put-up job.
I don't know whether you're in it or not, but there's no doubt about
Morrell."
Mrs. Putney gave a sort of gasp, and then they all shouted with laughter,
and Annie and the doctor went out into the night. In the imperfect light
which the electrics of the main street flung afar into the little avenue
where Putney lived, and the moon sent through the sidewalk trees, they
struck against each other as they walked, and the doctor said, "Hadn't you
better take my arm, Miss Kilburn, till we get used to the dark?"