324 THE GARDEN OF A 



to a day since they had parted, but he only re- 

 garded the time approximately, took both her 

 hands, and looked her squarely in the face as he 

 told her how well she looked, and that as the for- 

 bidden time for speaking of himself was over, he 

 must be selfish. 



He thanked her for her patient friendship, and 

 for her wise advice, saying that even two 

 years before she had known him better than he 

 himself had done. He told of his success and 

 that what she had said had all proved true. He 

 now realized that a physician from his anxious 

 life did not need a helpmeet of the head as much 

 as of the heart, and that he was just betrothed to 

 the daughter of his senior, a wholesome, fresh 

 young girl, whom she would love and who carried 

 restfulness in her very laugh. No one knew it yet, 

 as he wished Dora to be the first to hear the news, 

 and give her good wishes to them both. 



He said that in another year or two he expected 

 to have a hospital for children in connection with 

 his practice, and that as Dora seemed deliberately to 

 have chosen to adopt the vocation of a nurse, what 

 would be more fitting than that she should have 

 charge of it! 



Did you ever dream of such a tangle, you dear, 



