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 when he arrived. He did not eat anything, and--the doctor is coming to see him." Mr. Clark's face expressed the deepest concern. "He has been working too hard," he said, shaking his head. "He ought to have let me go over those accounts. With all he has to carry!" "Yes, sir, that's it," said James, heartily. "Well, don't you think I'd better go up and see him?" asked the old clerk, solicitously. "I might be able to suggest something?" "No, sir. He said quite positive he would not see _anybody_." James looked the clerk full in the face. "I was afraid something might 'ave 'appened down in the--ah--?" Mr. Clark's face lit up with a kindly light. "No, indeed. It's nothing like that, James. We never had so good a year. You can make your mind easy about that." "Thank you, sir," said the servant. "We'll have the doctor drop in to see him, and I hope he'll be all right in the morning. Snowy night, sir." "I hope so," said Mr. Clark, not intending to convey his views as to the weather. "You'll let me know if I am wanted--if I can do anything. I will come around first thing in the morning to see how he is. I hope he'll be all right. Good-night. A merry Christmas to you." "Good-night, sir. Thankee, sir; the same to you, sir. I'm going to wait up to see how he is. Good-night, sir." And James shut the door softly behind the visitor, feeling a sense of comfort not wholly accounted for by the information as to the successful year. Mr. Clark, somehow, always reassured him. The butler could understand the springs that moved that kindly spirit.