"Have you sent for Dr. Stone?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Helen - I - we "- Barbara stumbled in her speech. "We have taken
an aversion to Dr. Stone."
McIntyre set down his coffee cup with unwonted force, thereby
spilling some of its contents.
"What!" he exclaimed in complete astonishment, and regarded her
fixedly for a moment. His tolerant manner, which he frequently
assumed toward Barbara, grew stern. "Dr. Stone is my personal
friend, as well as our family physician -"
"And a cousin of Margaret Brewster," put in Barbara mildly.
"Well, what of it?" trenchantly, aware that he had colored at
mention of the widow's name. "Nothing," Barbara's eyes opened
innocently. "I only recalled the fact of his relationship as you
enumerated his virtues."
Colonel McIntyre transferred his regard from her to the butler.
"You need not wait, Grimes." He remained silent until the servant
was safely in the pantry, and then addressed his daughter. "None
of your tricks, Barbara," he cautioned. "If Helen is ill enough
to require medical attention, Dr.
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