Part 2 (1/2)
”I never heard of them,” said the English girl.
”Ah, that's your fault and your misfortune. I a.s.sure you everybody knows them.”
”And does everybody know the little man with the fat face to whom you kissed your hand?”
”I didn't kiss my hand, but I would if I had thought of it. He's a great chum of mine-a fellow-student at Vienna.”
”And what's _his_ name?”
”Doctor Feeder.”
Jackson Lemon's companion had a dandling pause. ”Are _all_ your friends doctors?”
”No-some of them are in other businesses.”
”Are they all in some business?”
”Most of them-save two or three like Dexter Freer.”
”'Dexter' Freer? I thought you said Doctor Freer.”
The young man gave a laugh. ”You heard me wrong. You've got doctors on the brain, Lady Barb.”
”I'm rather glad,” said Lady Barb, giving the rein to her horse, who bounded away.
”Well yes, she's very handsome, the reason,” Doctor Feeder remarked as he sat under the trees.
”Is he going to marry her?” Mrs. Freer inquired.
”Marry her? I hope not.”
”Why do you hope not?”
”Because I know nothing about her. I want to know something about the woman that man marries.”
”I suppose you'd like him to marry in Cincinnati,” Mrs. Freer not unadventurously threw out.
”Well, I'm not particular where it is; but I want to know her first.”
Doctor Feeder was very st.u.r.dy.
”We were in hopes you'd know all about it,” said his other entertainer.
”No, I haven't kept up with him there.”
”We've heard from a dozen people that he has been always with her for the last month-and that kind of thing, in England, is supposed to mean something. Hasn't he spoken of her when you've seen him?”
”No, he has only talked about the new treatment of spinal meningitis.
He's very much interested in spinal meningitis.”
”I wonder if he talks about it to Lady Barb,” said Mrs. Freer.