, 1922-06-29

with her. Much as an hour ago. She
said 1t was very decent for the price
we asked"
Dr. Godfrey Smith left the second
hand store in some detection. He def
nitely wouldn't go to the tea party
In the old suit. He couldn't buy a
ready-made suit and wear that. be-
cause ready-made suits did not ut him.
lie boosted to himself that he did not
have n ready-made build.
Thoroughly disguised and feeling
much out of patience with his sister,
he made his way to the hospital. He
n planned to take the rest of the
afternoon off, but he would make
some calls there that he had planned
to put off till the following morning.
lust as he was going out of one of
the wards into the office he fairly col
lided with the charming Mrs. Biodget
herself. She was carrying something
dark and bulky over her right arm.
II hardly saw where / was going"
said Mrs. Blodget. 81 have such an
awkward bundle. I'm going to see IL
the head nurse will have his suit
~fumlgated."
Doctor Godfrey recognized at once
his wandering spring tweed.
But the Dobbinses didn't have scar
let fever" he explained, taking the
suit from her arms. 81 told Priscilla
they did because at first I thought
there was a chance that they did"
you don't Imagine that l have your
suitF" said Mrs. Blodget with some
hauteur.
81 am sure that you have" said Doc
tor Godfrey.
Il Just bought 1t at the secondhand
store. | have a poor family l am in
terested In. wanted to get some
thing for n Of the sons who has
just k a new position. | thought
I'd see If there was anything at the
secondhand store. But one never
knows where those things come from
so wanted to get It f%umlgated."
"lt's all Prlscilla's fault" said Doc
tor Godfrey.
II sometimes think that Priscilla
neglects you fearfully," said Mrs.
Blodget, with eyes, dancing with
amusement, focused square into the
eyes of Doctor Godfrey.
Doctor Godfrey laughed with much
embarrassment. would you very
much mind If kept the suit?" he said.
IF you will let me take it, | will get
the very best ready-made suit l a
fird in town for the poor young man
in whom you are interested. You see,
this sn!t fits me very WE'LL rather
Ike it. in fact, and it happens that 1
wanted to look as presentable as pos
sible this afternoon. | have been
asked to a tea party"
Suddenly Mrs. Blodget's expression
of habitual hauteur returned. "oh, to
be sure. l did ask you to tea. Par
don me for forgetting. l thought you
and Hilda would want to meet again.
You seemed so entertained with her.
! am sorry about the suit. 1t was
o amusing"
So saying, Mrs. Blodget, still main
tanning her manner of hauteur, hur-
ried off, leaving Doctor Godfrey a
little nonplussed but in possession of
his suit.
He spent no time trying to figure
out the meaning of Mrs. Blodget's
mood, but hastened home, and without
waiting to get one of the maids to
press out the wrinkles, donned his re-
trieved suit in place of the shabby one
he was wearing and steered his course
TO the home of Mrs. Blodget. II was
past the time set for the tea party.
but Mrs. Blodget had only just arrived.
The role that was apparently ex-
pected OF him-that of devoted fol-
lower of the gushing Hllda-Doctor
Godfrey did not play. For n rather
tiresome hour he took part In CONVEX
sation that he tried to keep general,
drank tea and listened to the loqua-
cious Hilda. When his sister had left
and he stood up to take his departure
he said to Mrs. Blodget, still seated
rather YEARLY beside her tea table:
II want to make up to the young
man you are interested in. Won't you
come with me to select the sort OF
suit you thlnk would do instead? II
you will come with me now. we can
get to the. store before closing"
Perhaps II wasn't quite fair to get
her alone with him in his ear on false
pretenses. But Doctor Godfrey had
definitely decided to put of his pro-
posal of marriage no longer. And
when he had told her, with much fall
tering and many apologies, Mrs. Blod-
gets hauteur departed, never TO re-
turn. at least as far as Doctor God
frey vas concerned.
IL fancied you were In love with
HIlda." she said. "and the fact that
| felt really Jealous of her first proved
to me that ! really loved you myself"