"Simmons, Harvey Simmons," the other answered.
"Of course; it’s quite familiar now that I hear it. This is Dr. Wallis—and this is Mr. Simmons," he said to the other. "Dr. Wallis was just taking me to see a patient. Did you want to see me about anything in particular, Harvey?—you won’t mind my calling you that, will you?"
It only needed a glance at the pleased face to see how welcome was the familiarity.
"Well, really, I did," Harvey responded frankly. Wherewith, briefly and simply, he told his friend the purpose which had brought him to the city, outlining the academic course he intended to pursue, earnest resolve evident in every word. "And I wanted to get your advice about a boarding-house," he concluded; "you see, I thought you might know some nice quiet place that wouldn’t—that wouldn’t be too dear," he said, flushing a little. "I’m quite a stranger in the city—but I don’t want to go to a regular boarding-house if I can help it."
"Well, no," the doctor began, knitting his brows. "And I really ought to be able to help you out on that. But I tell you—you come along with us; then we can talk as we go along. Besides, I’m sure Dr. Wallis here will be able to advise you much better than I could—he knows every old woman in the city."
His confrère smiled. "It’s mostly the submerged tenth I know," he answered; "I’m afraid there aren’t many of my patients you’d care to board with. Want a place near the college, I suppose?"
"That’s not so essential," said Harvey; "I wouldn’t mind a walk of a mile or so at all."
"Good idea," said the other; "most students are pretty cheerful feeders—want a room to yourself?"
"I’d prefer it—if it wouldn’t add too much to the expense. I’ve always got to consider that, you know," returned Harvey, smiling bravely towards his new-found friend.
"Right again," affirmed the doctor. "Single stalls are the thing; everybody sleeps better without assistance. Sooner have a few children around? Some fellows study better with kids in the house, and others again go wild if they hear one howl."
"I believe I’d get along just as well without them," said Harvey, laughing; "you see, I’ll need to study very hard—and I don’t believe they help one much."
"It’s like studying in a monkeys’ cage," asserted Dr. Wallis vigorously; "what I hate about little gaffers in a boarding-house is the way they always want to look at your watch," he enlarged solemnly, "and five times out of six they let it fall. It’s fun for them, as the old fable says, but it’s death to the frogs. And of course you want to get into a place where they have good cooking; it’s pretty hard to do the higher mathematics on hash and onions—and lots o’ students have lost their degrees through bad butter. I’ve known men whose whole professional life was tainted by the butter they got at college."