d Mrs. Somers, "do you suppose I want to be told what
you go there for?--what I _do_ want to know, is whether he's like to
get well, and how soon."

"He will be conquering Pattaquasset in a few weeks," said the doctor.

"I wonder whether he'll conquer Phil Davids," said Mrs. Somers. "I
should like to see that done. Julius, did you ever find out anything
about the man that fired the shot?"

"Really, aunt Ellen, I am not a detective"--said the doctor carelessly,
looking at Faith, who kept as quiet as a dormouse. "If it had been my
business I suppose I should have found out."

"I think I heard you opine that Mr. Linden knew"--said Mrs. Somers.
"And I think somebody ought to find out--unless you want the thing done
over again. Don't you think so, Judge Harrison?"

"Well my dear," said the Judge, "I understand Mr. Linden to have been
actuated by a very benevolent motive--I understand his feelings. He
wouldn't run the risk of accusing a man unjustly--I can't blame him.
It's right, I think, though it's provoking. What do you think, Miss
Faith?"

Faith lifted her eyes, but perhaps the doctor saw in her changing cheek
some token of the pain he had stirred in the morning. He prevented her
reply.

"Ladies don't think about these things, my dear sir!--Aunt Ellen is so
sharp she gets ahead of her sex. Let me have the honour of suggesting a
pleasanter subject of meditation. I have seen to-night, aunt Ellen, the
most exquisite and valuable jewelry I have ever seen in my life!"

"Here in Pattaquasset!" said his sister.

"In Pattaquasset--or perhaps in the world."

"Don't excite yourself, Sophy," said Mrs. Somers,--"let's hear what
they were, first."

Faith, like everybody else, looked for the doctor's answer, though she
hardly knew what she was looking at.

"A lady, aunt Ellen," the doctor went on, glancing at her,--"had made a
necklace of her mother's arms,--and a cross, more precious than
diamonds, of her mother's hands; and clasping this cross to her breast,
adorned with this most exquisite and rare adornment, had--gone to
sleep!"

"And for once," said Mrs. Somers, "you preferred the wearer to the
jewels and--went into a trance! I can imagine you!"

"I? not I!"--said the doctor--"I went up stairs. But you have no idea
of the effect."

Faith had been experiencing some of the scattering fire of society,
which hits no one knows where and no one knows when. First the name of
Phil Davids had ploughed up the ground at