Will you tell him that I can't see him to-day, but that I shall be down-town next week, and I'll see him then ?" Miss Gregory was almost at the door before Adelaide stopped her.
"You must know that Mr.Farron cannot get down-town next week." "Has the doctor said not ?" Adelaide shook her head impatiently.
"I don't suppose any one has been so insane as to ask him," she answered.
Miss Gregory smiled temperately.
"Oh, next week is a long time off," she said, and left the room.

Adelaide turned to her husband.
"Do you enjoy being humored ?" she asked.
Farron had closed his eyes, and now opened them.
"I beg your pardon," he said.

"I didn't hear." "She knows quite well that you can't go down-town next week.

She takes your message just to humor you." "She's an excellent nurse," said Farron.
"For babies," Adelaide felt like answering, but she didn't.

She said instead, "Anyhow, Burke will never accept that as an answer." She was surprised to hear something almost boastful in her own tone.
"Oh, I think he will." She waited breathlessly for some sound from down-stairs or even for the flurried reentrance of Miss Gregory.