see what is to be seen over there," he said,--"shall we
go some day, if I get well enough before cold weather?"

Faith's quiet words of agreeing to this proposal were declared to be a
sham by her eyes, cheeks, lips and brow, every one of which was giving
testimony after a different fashion.

At this moment the door opened. It happened that Dr. Harrison had
encountered Cindy at the hall door, where she was either loitering to
catch snatches of indoor conversation, or waiting to entrap Jem Waters.
But there she was, and being asked for Mr. Linden replied that he was
down stairs, and without more ceremony ushered the doctor in; and
entering the whole view lay before him in its freshness. Mrs. Derrick,
complacent and comfortable, sat behind the no-longer-wanted tea-tray,
listening and playing with a spoon. Faith's face, though considering
her unfinished muffin, was brilliant with rosy pleasure; while the fire
which she had for some time forgotten to mend, lay in a state of
powerful inaction, a mass of living coals and smoking brands. In the
glow of that stood the easy chair, and therein Mr. Linden, although
with the air and attitude of one wanting both rest and strength, was
considering with rather unbent lips no less a subject than--One and
Somewhat!--further the doctor's eyes could not read. The precise
direction of those other eyes was shaded. The doctor came up and stood
beside them.

"Did I order you to stay up stairs?" he said in soft, measured
syllables, without having spoken to anybody else.

"Good evening, doctor!" said Mr. Linden offering his hand. "As I meet
you half way, please excuse me for keeping my seat."

From that hand, the doctor passed to Faith's; which was taken and held,
just enough to say all he wished to say; which, be it remarked in
passing, was a good deal.

"May I approach Mrs. Derrick?" said he then, turning round to Mr.
Linden with a cool, funny, careless, yet good-humoured, doubt upon his
face.

"What is the present state of your nerves?"

"Depending upon your answer, of course!--which the ordinary rules of
society forbid me to wait for. Madam!--are you in sufficient charity
with me to give me a cup of tea?"

"Yes, doctor--if the tea's good enough," said Mrs. Derrick with her
usual quietness. "And if it isn't I'll have some more." So saying she
got up and went towards the kitchen to call Cindy. The doctor skilfully
intercepted this movement, placing himself in her way.

"May I ask