CHAPTER I

ALARIC GOES TO THE MATING-DANCE The doctor wrote for a few minutes in silence, as he had some rather complicated forms to fill up. Then he turned to Alaric with a smile, holding out a yellow card. “Here you are!” he cried exuberantly. “‘A+.’ I congratulate you!” Alaric was pulling his white tunic on, and emerged with ruffled curls. “That’s good. So I can go to the mating-dance to-night?” “Not going to lose any time?” the doctor commented. “Well,” said the young man, looking slightly embarrassed, “I am thirty to-day…