wrong quotation," said Reuben quietly.

"You are sure of that?"

"Quite sure, sir--if it was anything about her which ought not to have
said."

"Don't know that it was," said the doctor; "it's well enough sometimes
to set people right when they are wrong--what I say is, that ladies
don't always thank one for it."

Reuben flushed a little.

"You don't know me, Dr. Harrison," he said--"I can't expect you to take
my word; but I have nothing to add to it."

"And I have nothing to add to mine," said the doctor lightly. "I heard
you quoted--that's all; I supposed you would know what for."

"Who did you hear, sir?"

"Don't know, really," said the doctor--"only he was a rude fellow--if
you can tell one by such a description among your mates, it was he."

And the doctor strolled away.

Reuben on his part seemed to recognize the description, for taking a
sort of intuitive bee-line through people and trees, he suddenly
brought up with the question,

"Phil Davids, what have you been saying about me?"

"I s'pose you think folks have nothing to do but talk about you now.
You're a long way out!"--was the careless answer.

"What did you say I said?" said Reuben.

"I never heard you say anything, as I know, that was worth tellin'
over. When I do, I'll let somebody know it, I tell _you_."

"I suppose that means that you won't answer my question," said Reuben.
"What I want to know is, not what I said, but what you say I said."

"About what?"

"About Miss Faith Derrick."

"I don't say you said nothing about her--I never heard you call her
name, as I know."

"Like enough," said Reuben, with a sort of resolute patience; "but what
did you say I said that had to do with her in any way?"

"Who do you think you air?" said Phil.

"I tell you what, Phil Davids," said Sam Stoutenburgh, who had heard
the last question or two, "if you don't keep your tongue off Miss
Derrick, I'll pitch you up into a pine tree so far that you'll see
stars before you come down--or I'm not Stoutenburgh nor stout,
neither!" and Sam--who was a little of a young giant--backed Phil up
against the tree that was nearest in a sort of preparatory way that was
rather breathless. Phil however was as tough as shoe leather.

"Suppos'n you keep eyes off her, then," said he struggling. "It's a
poor rule that don't work both ways."

"What have you been about?" said Sam,--"come, own up for once--just to
try how it feels."

"What have _you?_" said Phil. "