r 



H 



CHAPTER XXV 



THE RETURN OF THE EXILES 



ERE we are again,&quot; said the Doctor, 

 quite like the clown in the circus, as he 

 stamped about, shedding snow and over 

 wraps. &quot; You see, I defy heaven itself, my son, 

 when you begin to blubber. I got your letter. 

 What in thunder has happened to you now ? &quot; 



I tried to laugh. &quot; Genuine heart failure this 

 time,&quot; I said. &quot; But I did not intend to drag 

 you through this snow. I only wanted to relieve 

 myself when I wrote that letter. I had to con 

 fide in somebody. You will say I am a consum 

 mate noodle, and so I am, but the blow staggered 

 me a little.&quot; 



&quot; The blow ? What blow ? Are you using 

 metaphors or medical terms ? Suppose you come 

 down to the literal tomfoolery of it.&quot; 



&quot;That girl.&quot; 



Oh, ho ! &quot; 



34 



