He had an opportunity that very evening of, so to speak, trying the effect of a scourge upon his own flesh. Dr. Rowntree presented himself after dinner for a chat. This, as a rule, meant that they all three gossiped as hard, or harder than if they had been so many spinsters of the same ages and standing. This evening, from the nature of the subject, which soon became apparent, Roger and the old doctor did the gossiping with avidity; and Michael seized the opportunity, without taking them into his confidence, to use the scourge upon himself. They sat in the library, and after a few preliminary remarks, Dr. Rowntree uttered the words which he had come for the express purpose of uttering— ‘I was at Johnson’s last night,’ said he. ‘Johnson’ was the vicar of Bradstane—a toil-worn man, with a very exceeding numerous progeny. ‘Were you?’ said Michael; ‘and how are they going on? I haven’t been there for ages.’ ‘No, they said it was long since they had seen you. I think they are all flourishing. Effie looks a great deal better. Your absence does not seem to have damaged you in her estimation _yet_.’ ‘_Yet_—why the extreme emphasis upon that word?’ asked Michael, in surprise. ‘I don’t expect ever to be damaged in Effie’s estimation. And I told Mrs. Johnson that the treatment would have to be persevered in some time before any good effects could be expected, so I thought my absence would be accounted for.’ ‘Oh, I’m not meaning that,’ said the doctor mysteriously. ‘Mrs. Johnson is not the woman to shirk a direction of that kind. You may be sure that if you told her the treatment needed perseverance, it would get it from her. It has had it, and with good results. Poor little weakling! She may out-grow it all yet, though; and I will say that I don’t know a kinder and a gentler family, parents and children and all, than the Johnsons, anywhere.’ ‘Yes, they are a very nice lot of children,’ said Michael, who was tracing out the details of the Battle of Bull Run on a map, and who spoke absently. ‘Very nice children, and I must go and see them soon. But I have been so busy.’ ‘You had better go, if you don’t want your nose putting out of joint,’ said the doctor. ‘They are in a state of excitement at having found a new friend—a formidable rival to you, I can tell you, my lad.’ ‘Whoever it may be,’ said Michael, his finger on the line of the Shenandoah Valley railroad, ‘I will stake all I am worth on Effie’s fidelity.’ ‘Well, Effie—of course she’s infatuated about you. Perhaps the camp might even divide,—Effie and the rest of the girls on your side, and the boys on that of the new person. Guess who it is.’