All the same the doctor was pleased with the boy’s simple recognition of his services. He would indeed have done more, had he been able. He walked home slowly and thoughtfully, pondering that question, which he had asked the boy, thinking of a lecture which he had given a few weeks before in a crowded parish room; how he himself had answered the question--What is Christian Science?--to the convulsive amusement of his audience. He had dipped into a book--the text-book of Christian Science--made copious extracts and so satisfied himself that he understood the subject sufficiently to be able to warn people against the teachings of Christian Science. Mrs. Burton was watching for his return. She was anxious for news of the boy, fearing the early message which had been sent for the doctor must mean that he was worse. By her side, in the garden, seated in a little wheel-chair, was her only child, a girl of ten, who after a fall downstairs when she was five years old, causing an injury to her spine, had lost the use of her legs. There seemed no hope of her ever being able to walk again, since all the doctors who had seen her had not been able to do anything for her. "How is the boy?" asked Mrs. Burton, as the doctor entered the garden in front of the house. "He is well," was the brief reply. "You don’t mean?--" Mrs. Burton began in an alarmed tone. "I mean exactly what I say--the boy is well." "But, dear, how can that be, when he was so ill yesterday?" "I cannot tell you. He says it is Christian Science. I say it is a miracle." "Father, he won’t lose the use of his legs, will he?" the little girl asked. "No, Eloise, I think there will be no such effects from the fall, as unhappily there were in your case." "I am glad, Father, he is such a nice, kind boy!" The child had grieved, fearing that he might be crippled like herself. "Christian Science must be different from what you described at the lecture, dear. Do you think I might go and see Carol? I should like to hear from him what it is that has made him well so quickly. I owe Mrs. Mandeville a call." "Go and pay it, then. Perhaps the boy will talk to you. He did not seem to care to answer my questions." The doctor passed into the house with the thought that he would borrow that book again, and see if he could get a better understanding of the subject himself. CHAPTER XVII.--MRS. BURTON VISITS CAROL. Shortly after the doctor left Carol’s room, the maid entered to say the Rector was downstairs. Could he come up? "I will speak with the Rector before he comes upstairs," Mrs. Mandeville said, and left the room for that purpose. The news had reached the Rector that Dr. Burton had been sent for early that morning, and he also surmised that the boy must be worse. But the servants had assured him that such was not the case before Mrs. Mandeville joined him in the library.