She spoke of doing so." "I hope she has not," said I, in some alarm, "for Dr.Thorndyke is extremely anxious, for some reason, to examine it." "Well, she will be down in a few minutes, and then we shall know.

I told her you were here.

Have you any idea what Dr.Thorndyke's reason is for wanting to see it ?" "None whatever," I replied.

"Dr.Thorndyke is as close as an oyster.

He treats me as he treats every one else--he listens attentively, observes closely, and says nothing." "It doesn't sound very agreeable," mused Miss Gibson; "and yet he seemed very nice and sympathetic." "He _is_ very nice and sympathetic," I retorted with some emphasis, "but he doesn't make himself agreeable by divulging his clients' secrets." "I suppose not; and I regard myself as very effectively snubbed," said she, smiling, but evidently somewhat piqued by my not very tactful observation.
I was hastening to repair my error with apologies and self-accusations, when the door opened and an elderly lady entered the room.