"Now," said she, "don't lose any time in saying what you have got to say." Not encouraged by this reception, the doctor could not instantly arrange what he had to say.

But he shortly got his ideas into order, and proceeded to lay the case in its most favorable light before the old lady, dwelling particularly on the reasons why she had not been consulted in the affair.
Miss Panney heard him to the end without a change in the rigidity of her face and attitude.

"Very well, then," she said, when he had finished, "I see exactly what you have done.

You have thrown me aside for a cook." "Not at all!" exclaimed the doctor.

"I had no idea of throwing you aside.
In fact, Miss Panney, I never thought of you in the matter at all." "Exactly, exactly," said the old lady, with emphatic sharpness; "you never thought of me at all.