“The truth is, Dr. Harvey,” said Mr. Miles, “we thought the child dangerously ill, and as Dr. Jones could not come immediately, we concluded to send for you.”

“I admire your frankness,” responded Dr. Harvey, smiling; “and shall admire it still more, if you will inform me why you have lately preferred Dr. Jones to me.  Formerly I had the honour of enjoying your friendship and esteem, and you have frequently told me yourself, that you would trust no other physician.”

“Well,” replied Mr. Miles, “I am a plain man, and never hesitate to tell people what they wish to know.  I sent for Dr. Jones instead of you, I confess not that I doubted your skill—­”

“What then?”

“It is a delicate subject, but I will, nevertheless, speak out.  Although I had the utmost confidence in your skill and faithfulness—­I—­you know, I—­in short, I don’t like to trust a physician who drinks.”

“Sir!” cried the astonished doctor.

“Yes—­drinks,” pursued Mr. Miles.  “It is plain language, but I am a plain man.  I heard of your intemperance, and thought it unsafe—­that is, dangerous—­to employ you.”

“My intemperance!” ejaculated Dr. Harvey.

“Yes, sir! and I am sorry to know it.  But the fact that you sometimes drink a trifle too much is now a well known fact, and is generally talked of in the village.”

“Mr. Miles,” cried the indignant doctor, “this is scandalous—­it is false!  Who is your authority for this report?”

“Oh, I have heard it from several mouths but I can’t say exactly who is responsible for the rumour.”

And Mr. Miles went on to mention several names, as connected with the rumour, and among which was that of Mr. Query.

The indignant doctor immediately set out on a pilgrimage of investigation, going from one house to another, in search of the author of the scandal.

Nobody, however, could state where it originated, but it was universally admitted that the man from whose lips it was first heard, was Mr. Query.

Accordingly Dr. Harvey hastened to Mr. Query’s house, and demanded of that gentleman what he meant by circulating such scandal.

“My dear doctor,” cried Mr. Query, his face beaming with conscious innocence, “I haven’t been guilty of any mis-statement about you, I can take my oath.  I heard that there was a report of your drinking, and all I did was to tell people I didn’t believe it, nor know anything about it, and to inquire were it originated.  Oh, I assure you, doctor, I haven’t slandered you in any manner.”

“You are a poor fool!” exclaimed Dr. Harvey, perplexed and angry.  “If you had gone about town telling everybody that you saw me drunk, daily, you couldn’t have slandered me more effectually than you have.”

“Oh, I beg your pardon,” cried Mr. Query, very sad; “but I thought I was doing you a service!”

“Save me from my friends!” exclaimed the doctor, bitterly.  “An enemy could not have done me as much injury as you have done.  But I now insist on knowing who first mentioned the report to you.”