Surely he was
almost thirty, of average height, appeared strong, and as if he
might have a forceful brain; but he was loosely jointed and there
was a trace of domineering selfishness on his face that was
repulsive to her. "I could hate that MAN cordially, without half
trying," she thought to herself, smiling faintly at the thought.
The sharp eyes of Mrs. Holt detected the smile. She probably
would have noticed it, if Kate had merely thought of smiling.
"Why do you smile, my dear?" she asked in melting tone.
"Oh, I was feeling so at home," answered Kate, suavely. "Father
and the boys hold exactly those opinions and practise them in
precisely the same way; only if I were to think about it at all, I
should think that a man within a year of finishing a medical
course would begin exercising politeness with every woman he
meets. I believe a doctor depends on women to be most of his
patients, and women don't like a rude doctor."
"Rot!" said George Holt.
"Miss Bates is exactly right," said his mother. "Ain't I been
tellin' you the whole endurin' time that you'd never get a call
unless you practised manners as well as medicine? Ain't I, now?"
"Yes, you have," he said, angrily.
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