"Is he such a difficult person to deal with?" said the doctor, glancing at the different doors of the room. "I never tried," said Mrs. Derrick with very simple truth. "I must try, some time," said the doctor abstractedly:--"I like to deal with difficult people.--But I remember you remarked it was late!--" And he started up and was about to take his leave; when his purpose met with an interruption. For the swift trot of a horse upon the road came to as quick a pause at Mrs. Derrick's gate, and Reuben Taylor came up the steps and in at the open front door before Dr. Harrison had finished his compliments. "I see!" said the doctor,--"you don't keep open doors for nothing, Mrs. Derrick. Here's another. You're not riding after me, my friend, are you? You don't let the grass grow!" "No sir," said Reuben. "Good evening, Mrs. Derrick--may I go up to Mr. Linden's room?" "How is he now, Reuben?" said Mrs. Derrick. "O yes, you can go up, of course." "Thank you, ma'am--he said he was more comfortable when I came away." And with an almost imperceptible glance round the room he was in, Reuben turned and bounded lightly up the staircase. But all was dark there and in Mr. Linden's room. Reuben could not execute his commission so; and was turning to come down stairs again, when he encountered in the dim entry-way a white figure. "How _is_ Mr. Linden, Reuben?" said a voice which he knew, though it was in a very low key. "Miss Faith!" Reuben said with a little start--"O I am so glad to find you!"--Then repeated gravely his former answer--"He said he was more comfortable when I came away, ma'am." "Is he much hurt?" Reuben hesitated. "I don't rightly know, Miss Faith," he said, so low that she could scarce catch the words. "He says he's not--and Dr. Harrison says not,--I suppose I'm easy frightened." "What makes you frightened, then?" she said quickly. "I was frightened--" Reuben said, drawing a long breath, and with a sort of awe-stricken voice, as if the fright was upon him yet;--"and it takes a while to get over it. Maybe that's all. He wrote that, Miss Faith--" and Reuben laid a tiny folded paper in her hand. "And may I have a light, ma'am, to get some things from his room?" He spoke eagerly now, as if he grudged the moments. Faith directed him to the kitchen, and when Reuben came up, followed him into the room and stood waiting while he sought what he wanted. Then suddenly remembered that her paper might contain a request for something else, and bent over the candle to read it. It contained more than one. "Miss Faith," it said, "if any of my scholars are anxious about me, tell them, _from_ me, that there is no cause. Bid them take rest--without 'waiting for it.'--I am sorry that exercise must wait!--but I shall hope to see _two_ on Monday. J. E. L." Faith's head was bent a long while over the candle. "Have you got what you wanted, Reuben?" she asked at last.