of something white, and, behold, a wedding veil! There isn't a hook in the
closet that doesn't say, 'Standing-room only,' and the standing-room is
all stood on by a regiment of new shoes."

"My dear woman, go light on our sore spots. We are only just out of the
woods."

"Isn't it bad to coddle your sore spots, Doctor? Like a saddle-gall, ride
them down!" Mrs. Creve and Dr. Fleming exchanged a friendly smile on the
strength of this nonsense. On the doctor's side it covered a suspicion:
"'The lady, methinks, protests too much'!" The colonel, too, was restless,
and Moya's sweet color came and went. She appeared to be listening for
steps or sounds from some other part of the house.

The men all rose now as Mrs. Bogardus entered; one or two of the ladies
rose also, compelled by something in her look certainly not intended. She
was careful to greet everybody; she even crossed the room and gave her
hand to Lieutenant Winslow, whom she had not seen since the night of his
return. The doctor she casually passed over with a bow; they had met
before that day. It was in the mind of each person present not of the
family, and excepting the doctor, to ask her: 'How is your son this
evening?' But for some reason the inquiry did not come off.

The company began suddenly to feel itself _de trop_. Mrs. Dawson, who had
come under the doctor's escort, glanced at him, awaiting the moment when
it would do to make the first move.

"I hear you lost a patient from the hospital yesterday?" said Lieutenant
Winslow, at the doctor's side.