the doctor. "I am tempted to try it now. If
you bestow a little time upon me, it will not perhaps interfere with
your going to dinner afterwards. Does Mr. Linden continue to hold some
of his supervision over you? Do you hear from him sometimes?"

"Yes sir--both,"--was Reuben's prompt answer.

"Then you have something to do with the post-office occasionally?"

"Yes sir."

"And know pretty well what everybody in Pattaquasset says of every
other body,--don't you?"

"I don't need to go to the post office for that, sir," Reuben said
quietly.

"No--I mean by virtue of another office--that which you exercise for
your father. But it is true, isn't it?"

"Not quite, sir. Some people do not talk to me--and some I never stop
to hear."

The doctor smiled a little, along with an acute look of approving
intelligence.

"Well--do you happen to know what is said or thought of the people I
was the means of putting into the post-office, half a year ago?"

"Not very well, sir. I haven't heard much said about them."

"As far as your knowledge goes, they seem to be doing their duty?"

"I make no complaint, sir."

Dr. Harrison glanced at Faith with a not pleased expression, and back
again. "Does that mean that you have none to make, or that you will
make none? I am asking, you surely must know, not officially nor
judicially; but to gain private information which it is desirable I
should have; and which I ask, and expect to receive, confidentially."

"Sir," Reuben said gravely, though with a manner perfectly respectful,
"why do you ask _me?_ The gentlemen of Pattaquasset should know more
about their own post-office, than the poor fishers of Quapaw. There is
a clannishness among poor people, sir,--if I had heard anything, I
should not like to tell you."

The doctor got up and took his old position on the carpet rug, a very
slight air of haughty displeasure mixing with his habitual indolent
gracefulness.

"This is your knight, Miss Derrick! Apparently the proverb of 'friends'
friends' does not hold good with him. When you are a little older, sir,
you will know--if you grow correspondingly wiser--that the fishers of
Quapaw or of any other point are precisely the people to know in such a
matter what the gentlemen whom it more nearly concerns, cannot get at;
and you have yourself given the reason."

Faith looked at Reuben with a little inquiring wonder. But he made no
answer, either to her look or the doctor's words; indeed pe