said Mr. Linden.

The boy stayed not for more compliments then, but passing the ladies
and the doctor with a collective bow, and "good evening, Miss Faith,"
went round with a quick step and a glad face to Mr. Linden. And
kneeling down by him, with one hand on his shoulder, gave him the post
despatches, and asked and answered questions not very loud but very
earnestly. That was a phasis of Reuben Dr. Harrison had not seen
before. He took good and broad note of it, though nothing interrupted
the doctor's muffin--or muffins, for they were plural. Neither did he
interrupt anything that was going on.

"Are you better, sir? are you really well enough to be down
stairs?"--Dr. Harrison would hardly have known the voice. And the
answering tone was of the gentlest and kindest, though the words failed
to reach the doctor's ears. Some directions, or commissions,
apparently, Mr. Linden gave for a few minutes, and then Reuben rose to
his feet with a long breath that spoke a mind very much relieved. He
paused for a moment on his way out, opposite Faith, as if he wanted a
word in that quarter; but perhaps the doctor's presence forbade, for
all the congratulation that Reuben gave her was in his face and bow.
That did not satisfy Faith if it did him. She jumped up and gave him
her hand, almost affectionately.

"You see I am safe and well, Reuben."

"I am so thankful, Miss Faith!" And the words said not half.

The doctor had finished his muffins and was standing before the fire
again. "Have you found out yet, my man," he said in a somewhat amused
voice,--"whose friend you are?"

The words jarred--and the colour on Reuben's face was of a different
tint from that which had answered Faith. It was with his usual reserved
manner, though nothing could be more civil, that he said, "No sir--no
more than I knew before." But the respect was from Reuben as a boy to
Dr. Harrison as a man. Faith's eye glanced from one to the other, and
then she said, "What do you mean, Dr. Harrison?"

"Only a play of words," said the doctor lightly. "This young fellow is
very cautious of making professions--as I have found."

"He has no need, sir," said Faith. She quitted as she spoke, the boy's
hand which she had held until then, and came back to her seat. The
words were spoken quietly enough and with as gentle a face, and yet
with somewhat in the manner of both that met and fully answered all the
bearing of the doctor's.

"You need not wait, Reuben," said