They let her get pretty sick before they sent for me last Wednesday. They thought she was dying, and the local doctor wasn’t sure what was the matter with her. I’ve been up three times since, was up yesterday evening, got back at two o’clock this morning. It’s some jaunt. I went up to see if it was safe to leave her, and now I suppose instead of carrying out my Christmas plans I’ve got to go up again. That’s what it is to be a doctor! Have to disappoint Natalie and the kids! But I wouldn’t feel happy in my mind if I didn’t go. You can’t trust just everybody with an errand like that, the day before Christmas. Well, perhaps I’ll get back in time to take the midnight train, and reach the farm about ten tomorrow morning.”

He touched the bell on his desk and the nurse appeared capably at the door.

“Miss Rice, prepare another bottle of that prescription I took up yesterday to Mrs. Watt. They’ve broken that one. Put it in one of those foolproof boxes so they can’t break it again. And then get Western Union and wire Mrs. Sargent that I can’t get the noon train. I’ll try to make the midnight if possible.”

“Wait, Mac,” said Alan Monteith, springing up eagerly, “don’t send the message to Natalie! Why can’t I take that medicine for you? I’ll swear on my life that I’ll deliver it in good order before six o’clock. I’ll take it as a sacred trust. I guess you can rely on me, can’t you?”

“Rely? Well, I rather guess yes, but I couldn’t think of letting you upset your plans for this. It’s just all in the day’s work for me, and you were on your way somewhere, I know. I wouldn’t have you go out of your way for anything. No, Alan, it will be all right. Really it will. I’ll get there before the day is over, and that’s all they can expect of a doctor.”

“Look here, Mac. I’ll take it hard if you refuse me. I don’t care a cent for the fool house party I’m going to. It’s the only excuse for a holiday that presented itself, and I wasn’t at all sure I was going until a few minutes before I started.”

“But I can’t have you bearing my burdens and upsetting your plans. There’s probably at least one lady involved in the case who will never forgive you. No, Alan, I can’t have you going off on a trip for me, traveling miles out of your way.”

“There is no lady involved who has a right to care, and I don’t in the least mind a trip. And how do you know it is so far out of my way? Where is it, anyway? Show me!”

Alan pulled out a map from his overcoat pocket and they both bent over it.

“Why, it’s practically on my way!” said the young lawyer, straightening up. “Of course I’ll take that medicine, and you needn’t worry a minute. Get it ready for me, Miss Rice, and I’ll start right away. There is no reason in the world why I shouldn’t have it there early in the afternoon.”

“I’ll have it wrapped in five minutes, Mr.