[Pg 62] “Shall we play chess?” she asked. “If the others will excuse us, I shall be charmed,” he responded. Soon they were deep in their game. Margaret went after a book she had been reading, and the young people went to the library, where they could talk undisturbed. They played three games. Miss Field won the first and third, her antagonist contenting himself with the second. It had always been so, and for ten years she had taken a childish delight in her skill. “My dear Doctor,” she often said, “it takes a woman of brains to play chess.” “It does, indeed,” he invariably answered, with an air of gallantry. Once he had been indiscreet and had won all three games, but that was in the beginning and it had never happened since. When the clock struck ten, he looked at his heavy, old-fashioned silver watch with apparent [Pg 63]surprise. “I had no idea it was so late,” he said. “I must be going!” [Pg 63] “Pray wait a moment, Doctor. Let me offer you some refreshment before you begin that long walk. Iris?” “Yes, Aunt Peace.” The girl knew very well what was expected of her, and dimples came and went around the corners of her mouth. “Those little cakes that we had for tea—perhaps there may be one or two left, and is there not a little wine?” “I’ll see.” Smiling at the pretty comedy, she went out into the kitchen, where Doctor Brinkerhoff’s favourite cakes, freshly made, had been carefully put away. Only one of them had been touched, and that merely to make sure of the quality. With the Royal Worcester plate, generously piled with cakes, a tray of glasses, and a decanter of Miss Field’s famous port, she went back into the parlour. “This is very charming,” said the Doctor. He had made the same speech once a week for ten years. Aunt Peace filled the glasses, and when all had been served, she looked at [Pg 64]him with a rare smile upon her beautiful old face. [Pg 64] Then the brim of his glass touched hers with the clear ring of crystal. “To your good health, madam!” “And to your prosperity,” she
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