a
rare book. He had of late been seeking a chance to invest some hundreds
in a copy of Captain John Smith's "Generall Historie of Virginia,"
provided that he could find a copy with 1624 on the title-page. The 1626
was rare and almost, if not exactly, word for word the same as the 1624;
but it would not do. For there were already several twenty-sixes in this
country, and there was no fun in possessing a book that two or three
other people could boast of having. When not busy with his books Philip
was mostly crouched in an armchair in his library, or for a change
crouched in an armchair at the Terrapin Club--in either case smoking
and, as his mother believed, making profound reflections which might one
day come to something. For how could a bright-minded man like Philip
fail to bring forth something of value, seeing he bought expensive
books and gave so much of his time to meditation?

That Phillida should be specially asked to dine at her aunt's was rather
inevitable under the circumstances, and Mrs. Gouverneur saw to it that
she came when Philip was at home and when there was no other company.
This arrangement pleased Phillida; Uncle Gouverneur was dull enough, but
Cousin Philip was always interesting in talk, and a good fellow, if he
did spend his life in collecting books mostly of no particular value to
anybody but a curiosity-hunter, and in poking good-natured fun at other
people's cherished beliefs.

The meal was well-nigh finished when Philip said to his cousin who
confronted him--there were only four at the table:

"Phillida, I saw Mrs. Maginnis day before yesterday at Mrs.
Benthuysen's. She is still sounding your praises as a faith-healer, but
she confided to me that a pious girl and a minister's daughter ought not
to be proud. She suggested that you didn't get that from your father.
'Her pride comes from the mother's side, they tell me,' she said. 'How's
that, Mr. Gouverneur?' and she laughed at what she regarded a capital
drive at me."

Phillida was not pleased at the mention of Mrs. Maginnis. Since the
death of Wilhelmina, two weeks before, her mind had been disturbed as to
the substantial value of faith-cures. Dr. Beswick's rationalism on the
subject rose to trouble her. Happily she had not been sent for to visit
any new cases, the death of Wilhelmina, her first notable example,
having a little spoiled the charm of her success, as Dr. Beswick had
foreseen. Doubt had made her cowardly, and there lurked in