The young doctor stamped vehemently up the marble steps, to warm his feet, and once in the warm, flower-scented halls, let a little shiver escape him. The butler was new--he was always new, the doctor thought--and actually didn't know him. "Mrs. Allen is at bridge, sir, with a party: she asks to be excused," he began mechanically. (_"That's good!" Stanchon felt tempted to say, "and I hope the girls are out, too!"_) As if in answer to this indiscretion, the new butler droned on: "Miss Alida is at her riding-lesson and Miss Suzanne is--is engaged----" (_"Now, what particular infernal idiocy…