apt in
deep abstraction, his face filled with perplexity and gloom, and as the
cook watched him anxiously her face too took on gradually the same
expression.

"I has not see him like this before, not in ten year--not in twelve
year. Not since he got that letter from that young lady what--." He
stopped and looked at the cook.--"He was hactually hirascible!"

"He must be got to bed, poor dear!" said the cook, sympathetically. "And
you must get the doctor, and I'll make some good rich broth to have it
handy.--And just when we were a-goin' to dress the house and have it so
beautiful!"

She turned away, her round face full of woe.

"Ah! Well!--" The butler tried to find some sentence that might be
comforting; but before he could secure one that suited, the door bell
rang, and he went to answer it.

CHAPTER VI

It was Mr. Clark, who as soon as the door was opened stepped within and
taking off his hat began to shake the snow from it, even while he
greeted James and wished him a merry Christmas.

James liked Mr. Clark. He did not rate him very highly in the matter of
intelligence; but he recognized him as a gentleman, and appreciated his
kindly courtesy to himself. He knew it came from a good heart.

Many a man who drove up to the door in a carriage, James relieved of his
coat and showed into the drawing-room in silence; but the downcast eyes
were averted to conceal inconvenient thoughts and the expressionless
face was a mask to hide views which the caller might not have cared to
discover. Mr. Clark, however, always treated James with consideration,
and James reciprocated the feeling and returned the treatment.

Mr. Clark was giving James his hat when the butler took in that he had
come to see Mr. Livingstone.

"Mr. Livingstone begs to be excused this evening, sir," he said.

"Yes." Mr. Clark laid a package on a chair and proceeded to unbutton his
overcoat.

"He says he regrets he cannot see any one," explained the servant.

"Yes. That's all right. I know." He caught the lapels of the coat
preparatory to taking it off.

"No, sir. He cannot see _anybody_ at all this evening," insisted James,
confident in being within his authority.

"Why, he told me to come and bring his books! I suppose he meant--!"

"No, sir. He is not very well this evening."

Mr. Clark's hands dropped to his side.

"Not well! Why, he left the office only an hour or two ago."

"Yes, sir; but he walked up, and seemed very tired