Page:Frank Packard - Greater Love Hath No Man.djvu/216

 jerked out the doctor, a quaint mingling of despotic assertion and lingering resignation in his tones.

"I am sure there must be other women with—with hearts of gold," prodded Janet naïvely.

"So there are, so there are," retorted the little doctor quickly; "but they're all too young—or else they're married, and their husbands are confoundedly healthy!" He shook his finger at Janet, chuckled, and then edged his elbows interestedly forward on the arms of his chair. "By the way," he asked suddenly, "what's become of that chap Merton? I haven't seen him for quite a while. I should have thought he'd have been around after the fire, he must have heard of it—everybody's heard of it this side of Jordan, as near as I can make it out."

"Why," said Janet, "I thought I had told you. He has gone away and—"

"By Jove!" interposed the warden. "That reminds me. He was back to-day."

"Back?" inquired Janet, turning quickly to her father.

"Not here—over in Berley Falls," said the warden. "He telephoned me this afternoon. I forgot to speak of it. He asked after you and about the fire, and said he was exceedingly sorry he wouldn't have time to run over, but that he was only in Berley Falls for the afternoon. He has given up law, it seems, and is travelling for some business house—he said there was more money in it. His mother is very poorly, he said, and that is what brought him up here."

"Oh, I am so sorry!" said Janet, with quick sympathy. "What is the matter with Mrs. Merton? Did he say?"