Wanted--A Match Maker | Page 8

gave a cry of pain, and clutched Constance's arm, squeezing it
so as to almost make her scream; but she set her teeth determinedly and
took his other hand in hers.
At a word the nurse grasped the limb and held it as it was placed, while
the doctor took one of the rolls, and, dipping it in the water, unrolled it
round and round the leg, with a rapidity and deftness which had, to
Constance, a quality of fascination in it. A second wet bandage was
wound over the first, then a dry one, and the leg was gently laid back
on the litter. "Take his temperature," ordered the doctor, as he began to

apply strips of adhesive plaster to the injured ribs; and though it
required some persuasion by the nurse and Constance, the invalid
finally was persuaded to let the little glass lie under his tongue. His task
completed, Dr. Armstrong withdrew the tube and glanced at it.
"Dat medicine oin't got much taste, boss," announced the urchin,
cheerfully, "but it soytenly done me lots of good."
The doctor looked up at Constance with a pleasant smile. "There's both
the sense and the nonsense of the Christian Science idiocy," he said;
and half in response to his smile and half in nervous relief, Constance
laughed merrily.
"I am glad for anything that makes him feel better," she replied; then,
colouring once more, she added, "and will you let me express my regret
for my impulsive words a little while ago, and my thanks to you for
relieving the suffering for which I am, to a certain extent, responsible?"
"There is no necessity for either, Miss Durant, though I am grateful for
both," he replied.
"Will there be much suffering?"
"Probably no more than ordinarily occurs in such simple fractures,"
said the doctor; "and we'll certainly do our best that there shall not be."
"And may I see him to-morrow?"
"Certainly, if you come between eleven and one."
"Thank you," said Constance. "And one last favour. Will you tell me
the way to my carriage?"
"If you will permit me, I'll see you to it," offered Dr. Armstrong.
With an acknowledgment of the head, Constance turned and took the
boy's hand and said a good-bye.
"Do you suppose all newsboys are so dreadfully sharp and suspicious?"

she asked of her guide, as they began to descend the stairs, more
because she was conscious that he was eyeing her with steady scrutiny
than for any other reason.
"I suppose the life is closer to that of the wild beast than anything we
have in so-called civilisation. Even a criminal has his pals, but, like the
forest animal, everyone--even his own kind--is an enemy to the street
waif."
"It must be terrible to suspect and fear even kindness," sighed the girl,
with a slight shudder. "I shall try to teach him what it means."
"There does not appear to be any carriage here, Miss Durant,"
announced her escort.
"Surely there must be. The men can't have been so stupid as not to
wait!"
The doctor tapped on the window of the lodge. "Didn't this lady's
carriage remain here?" he asked, when the porter had opened it.
"It stayed till the policeman came down, doctor. He ordered it to go to
the police-station, and got in it."
"I forgot that my coachman must answer for the accident. Is there a
cab-stand near here?"
Dr. Armstrong looked into her eyes, with an amusement which yet did
not entirely obliterate the look of admiration, of which the girl was
becoming more and more conscious. "The denizens of Avenue A have
several cab-stands, of course," he replied, "but they prefer to keep them
over on Fifth Avenue."
"It was a foolish question, I suppose" coldly retorted Constance, quite
as moved thereto by the scrutiny as by the words, "but I did not even
notice where the carriage was driving when we came here. Can you tell
me the nearest car line which will take me to Washington Square?"

"As it is five blocks away, and the neighbourhood is not of the nicest, I
shall take the liberty of walking with you to it."
"Really, I would rather not. I haven't the slightest fear," protested the
girl, eager to escape both the observation and the obligation.
"But I have," calmly said her companion, as if his wish were the only
thing to be considered.
For a moment Miss Durant vacillated, then, with a very slight
inclination of her head, conveying the smallest quantity of consent and
acknowledgment she could express, she walked out of the
porte-cochere.
The doctor put himself beside her, and; they turned down the street, but
not one word did she say. "If he will force his society upon me, I will at
least show