'?" Mrs. Strong had not quite
forgiven Philip for his sceptical questioning of the reality of the man
with the lantern who had driven the knife into the desk.

"Yes, it's your turn now, Sarah. Well, if our Brother Man was a dream he
was the most curious dream this family ever had. And if he was crazy he
was the most remarkable insane person I ever saw."

"Of course he was crazy. All that he said about our living so
extravagantly."

"Do you think he was crazy in that particular?" asked Philip, in a
strange voice. His wife noticed it at the time, but its true
significance did not become real to her until afterward. He went to the
front door and found it was unlocked. Evidently the guest had gone out
that way. The heavy storm of the night had covered up any possible signs
of footsteps. It was still snowing furiously.

He went into his study for the forenoon as usual, but he did very little
writing. His wife could hear him pacing the floor restlessly.

About ten o'clock he came downstairs and declared his intention of going
out into the storm to see if he couldn't settle down to work better.

He went out and did not return until the middle of the afternoon. Mrs.
Strong was a little alarmed.

"Where have you been all this time, Philip?--in this terrible storm,
too! You are a monument of snow. Stand out here in the kitchen while I
sweep you off."

Philip obediently stood still while his wife walked around him with a
broom, and good-naturedly submitted to being swept down, "as if I were
being worked into shape for a snow man," he said.

"Where have you been? Give an account of yourself."

"I have been seeing how some other people live. Sarah, the Brother Man
was not so very crazy, after all. He has more than half converted me."

"Did you find out anything about him?"

"Yes, several of the older citizens here recognized my description of
him. They say he is harmless and has quite a history; was once a wealthy
mill-owner in Clinton. He wanders about the country, living with any one
who will take him in. It is a queer case; I must find out more about
him. But I'm hungry; can I have a bite of something?"

"Haven't you had dinner?"

"No; haven't had time."

"Where have you been?"

"Among the tenements."

"How are the people getting on there?"

"I cannot tell. It almost chokes me to eat when I think of it."

"Now, Philip, what makes you take it so seriously? How can you help all
that suffering? You are not to