"I think pretty soon it won't be even three times," Dr. Lavendar declared; "but it's hard work; I know it is." Algernon looked at him eagerly. "You know how it is yourself, maybe?" "Well, I never happened to want to take too much," Dr. Lavendar said, gently; "if I had, it would have been hard, I'm sure." "Well, you bet," Algy told him, knowingly. Then they talked the business over, and Dr. Lavendar clapped Algy on the shoulder and said he believed he'd have that house and shop yet. "Rosebloom may be a gold-mine," said Dr. Lavendar. Then he gave Algy some advice about the window display, and suggested a little gas-jet on the counter where gentlemen might light their cigars; and he told Algy what brand he smoked himself, and recommended it, in spite of its price. Algy smacked his thigh at that, and said Dr. Lavendar had the making of a smart business man in him. Indeed, Algy felt so cheered that he opened his show-case and displayed a box of his new cosmetic. "Look here, doctor," he said, earnestly; "I'll give you a box. Yes--yes! I will. I'd just as lief as not. You maybe wouldn't want to use it yourself; gentlemen don't, often. But give it to one of your lady friends. Do, now, doctor. It don't cost me much of anything--and I'm sure you've been kind to me." And Dr. Lavendar accepted the lip-salve, and thanked Algy warmly; then he said that the picture on the lid of the tight-waisted lady was very striking. "That's so!" cried Algy. "She's a beauty. She makes me think of Mary." Algernon had presented Dr. Lavendar with a cigar, and the old minister was smoking it in great comfort, his feet on the base of a rusty, melon-shaped iron stove; Algy was leaning back against the counter, his elbows on the show-case behind him. "Dr. Lavendar," he said, looking at the toe of his boot, "I--got something on my mind." "Well, off with it, quick as you can." "I've been thinking about the Day of Judgment." "Ho!" said Dr. Lavendar. "Well, sir, I get to thinking: if everybody's sins are to be read out loud before all the world--standing up, rows and rows and rows of 'em. Can't see the end of 'em--so many. I kind a' hate to think that Mary might hear--things about me." "Well, Keen," said Dr. Lavendar, slowly, "I don't believe it will be that way." He hesitated a little. After all, it is a risk to take away even a false belief, unless you can put a true one in its place. Algy stopped looking at the toe of his boot. "_What!_" said he. "Now just look at it," said Dr. Lavendar. "Who would be the better for that kind of publicity? Good people wouldn't like it; it would pain them. You say yourself that Mary wouldn't like to hear that you did wrong three times." "No; she wouldn't," Algernon said. "Wicked people might enjoy it," Dr. Lavendar ruminated, "but--" --"but God don't cater to the wicked?" Algy finished, quickly.