nscience.

It drew forth no answer from the doctor, for Mrs. Stoutenburgh just
then stirred and awoke. And Faith little guessed the train she had
touched. There were no indications of manner; and she could not, as Dr.
Harrison went leisurely down the stairs, see the tremendous bound his
mind made with the question,--

"Is it _that book_ that stands in my way?--or HE!"

CHAPTER XXII.

Mrs. Stoutenburgh got well. And it was in Faith's mind then, by some
means to see very little more of Dr. Harrison till Mr. Linden should be
in Pattaquasset again. So much for human intentions. Faith fell sick
herself; and instead of being kept at a distance Dr. Harrison saw her
twice at least in the twenty-four hours.

It was a doubtful privilege to see those soft eyes lustrous with fever
and a steady glow take place of the changing and flitting hues which
were as much a part of Faith's language, at times, as the movements of
a horse's ears are part of his. But as after a few days it became
evident that there was nothing dangerous about Faith's attack, it is
probable that the doctor rather enjoyed his position than otherwise.
The freedom and authority of his office were a pleasant advance upon
the formalities of ordinary intercourse; and to see Faith and speak to
her and touch her hand without any ceremonial but that of friendship,
was an advantage great enough to desire the prolonging thereof. Faith
was a gentle patient; and Dr. Harrison's care was unbounded; though it
was not alarming, even to Mrs. Derrick, as he assured her there was no
cause.

For a week however Faith kept her bed, and even Dr. Harrison was glad
when at the end of a week she was able to be up again. Especially
perhaps as it was only in her wrapper and an easy chair; his office was
not at an end; the fever, in a remittent or intermittent form, still
hung about her and forbade her doing anything but taking care of
herself.

Not precisely in this category of duty were the letters Faith had
written all that week. She had written them, how was best known by an
aching head and burning fingers and feverish vision. But an
interruption of them would have drawn on Mr. Linden's knowing the
reason; and then Faith knew that no considerations would keep him from
coming to her. It was towards the end of the study term; he was working
hard already; she could not endure that any further bar should be
placed in his way. None should for her. And so, bit by bit when she