"You here?" he said, trying to control the disturbed element in his
voice.
She answered quietly:--
"I came out by street-car. Did you drive?"
"Yes,"' he said, abruptly, "but I am not alone. How is the child?" and
he went forward at once to his professional duties, leaving her to
wonder over his manner.
It was peculiar, certainly. Joy Saunders was used to abruptness from
this man, but there was a quality in it to-day that she did not
recognize. She went and looked out of the window, and saw Gracie Dennis
holding the horses, saw her red, red cheeks, and flashing eyes, and the
peculiar, haughty poise of her head, with which the stepmother at home
was well acquainted.
She did not know this Gracie Dennis save by reputation. Once Dr. Everett
had asked her to call at Mrs. Roberts', and had made her feel as though
she were foolishly conventional in declining to do so. "How is she ever
to know you, according to the rules which trammel society? There ought
to be some way arranged for Christians to be free from trammels." This
had been his comment; but he had not asked her again, and she had never
met Mrs. Roberts, nor yet Gracie Dennis. Yet she knew her very well, and
had watched her often as she passed.
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