"Span," he said warningly, "be a good dog and behave yourself! Remember what happened to you after the poor lunatic lady went away." And Span looked up with that peculiar, thoughtful look which dogs sometimes have of understanding everything which is being said to them.
Span had been beaten--a very rare experience for him--after the mad lady had left the doctor's house.

But whether he understood or not the exact reference to that odious episode in his happy past life, there was no doubt that Span did understand that his master regarded him as being in disgrace; and it was a very subdued dog that walked sedately into the hall where most of the party were gathered together ready to greet the new-comer.
Miss Farrow was particularly cordial, and so was Helen Brabazon.

She and Dr.Panton had become real friends during Mrs.Varick's illness, and they had been at one in their affection for, and admiration of, Lionel Varick during that piteous time.

To the doctor (though he would not have admitted it, even to himself, for the world) there had been something very repugnant about the dying woman.

Though still young in years, she might have been any age; and she was so fretful and so selfish, hardly allowing her husband out of her sight, while utterly devoted to him, of course, in her queer, egoistic way--and to Miss Brabazon, her kind new friend.